Optical line terminal and optical network unit

ABSTRACT

An optical line terminal which includes an observing unit that observes information of any one or all of an arrival interval of frames, an instantaneous bandwidth under use of a flow, a queue length of a queue temporarily storing the frames, and a traffic type, and a stop determining unit that dynamically determines a sleep time to be a period in which a sleep state where partial functions of the ONU are stopped is maintained, on the basis of the information obtained by the observing unit. The ONU is entered into a sleep state, immediately after communication ends, after a predetermined waiting time passes from when the communication ends, or after a waiting time determined on the basis of the information passes from when the communication ends.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Disclosure

The present disclosure relates to an optical line terminal and anoptical network unit that have a function of saving power of a device bystopping operation of partial functions for a predetermined period in anoptical network that performs point-to-point or point-to-multi-pointcommunication.

2. Discussion of the Background Art

As illustrated in FIG. 1, an optical network is a network in which oneoptical line terminal (OLT) performs point-to-point communication withone optical network unit (ONU) through an optical fiber transmissionpath.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, a passive optical network (PON) is a networkin which one optical line terminal (OLT) performs point-to-multi-pointcommunication with plural optical network units (ONU) through an opticalfiber transmission path and a one-to-n optical splitter (n refers to anatural number). As a representative standard of a gigabit-class PON, anEthernet® PON (EPON) that is standardized in the IEEE802.3 is known. Inaddition, a 10G-EPON is examined as a 10 gigabit-class PON in theIEEE802.3av examination group.

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of a conventional OLT in an EPON. Adownlink main signal is transmitted to a PON interface (PON-IF) port 101through a service node interface (SNI) port 104, a queue managing unit103, and a PON signal processing unit 102. Meanwhile, an uplink mainsignal is transmitted to the SNI port 104 through the PON-IF port 101,the PON signal processing unit 102, and the queue managing unit 103. AnOLT 100 has a multi-point control protocol (MPCP) unit that reports adata amount in a queue included in the ONU to the ONU using a reportmessage, a band allocating unit that monitors the data amount in thequeue included in the ONU on the basis of the report message receivedfrom the ONU and allocates an instantaneous bandwidth under use to eachONU, and an operations, administration, and maintenance (OAM) unit thatexchanges a control frame for maintenance and monitor with the ONU, asthe PON signal processing unit 102.

FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of a conventional ONU in an EPON.An uplink main signal is transmitted to a PON-IF port 204 through a usernetwork interface (UNI) port 201, a queue managing unit 202, and a PONsignal processing unit 203. Meanwhile, a downlink main signal istransmitted to the UNI port 201 through the PON-IF port 204, the PONsignal processing unit 203, and the queue managing unit 202. The ONU 200has an MPCP unit that reports a data amount in a queue to the OLT and anOAM unit that exchanges a control frame for maintenance and monitor withthe OLT, as the PON signal processing unit 203.

As a conventional technology that is related to saving of power of acommunication terminal, a method that causes a transmitting terminal tomonitor a flow control signal from a receiving terminal and performpower saving control is described in Patent Document 1.

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of an opticalnetwork system of a point-to-point type. An optical network of thepoint-to-point type is a network in which one optical line terminal(OLT) 73 performs one-to-one communication with one optical network unit(ONU) 71 through an optical fiber transmission path 72.

FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a passive opticalnetwork (PON) system of a point-to-multi-point type. The PON is anetwork in which one optical line terminal (OLT) 830 performs one-to-ncommunication with plural optical network units (ONU) 81 to 8 n throughan optical fiber transmission path 820 and a one-to-n (n refers to anatural number) optical splitter 810. As a representative standard of agigabit-class PON, an Ethernet® PON (EPON) that is standardized in theIEEE802.3 is known.

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a conventionalOLT in an EPON. An OLT 90 includes a PON interface (PON-IF) 91, a PONsignal processing unit 92, a queue managing unit 93, and a service nodeinterface (SNI) 94.

The PON-IF 91 is an interface that is used to connect the OLT and theoptical network.

The PON signal processing unit 92 includes a multi-point controlprotocol (MPCP) module 95, a band allocating module 96, an operations,administration, and maintenance (OAM) module 97, a media access control(MAC) module 98, and a physical layer (PHY) module 99.

The MPCP module 95 reports a data amount in a queue included in the ONUto the ONU using a report message. The band allocating module 96monitors the data amount in the queue included in the ONU on the basisof the report message received from the ONU and allocates aninstantaneous bandwidth under use to each ONU. The OAM module 97exchanges a control frame for maintenance and monitor with the ONU. TheMAC module 98 controls a transmitting/receiving operation of an MACframe. The PHY module 99 that is a physical layer performs signalconversion between a signal having a MAC frame format and a signaltransmitted through the optical network.

The queue managing unit 93 queues data that is exchanged with a servicenetwork and manages the data.

The SNI 94 is an interface that is used to connect the OLT and theservice network.

A downlink main signal is transmitted to the PON-IF 91 through the SNI94, the queue managing unit 93, and the PON signal processing unit 92.Meanwhile, an uplink main signal is transmitted to the SNI 94 throughthe PON-IF 91, the PON signal processing unit 92, and the queue managingunit 93.

FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a conventionalONU in an EPON. An ONU 100 includes a user network interface (UNI) 101,a queue managing unit 102, a PON signal processing unit 103, and aPON-IF 104.

The UNI 101 is an interface that is used to connect the ONU and aterminal such as a PC or a router.

The queue managing unit 102 queues data that is exchanged with theterminal and manages the data.

The PON signal processing unit 103 includes an MPCP module 105, an OAMmodule 106, a MAC module 107, and a PHY module 108.

The MPCP module 105 reports a data amount in a queue to the OLT using areport message. The OAM module 106 exchanges a control frame formaintenance and monitor with the OLT. The MAC module 107 controls atransmitting/receiving operation of a MAC frame. The PHY module 108 thatis a physical layer performs signal conversion between a signal having aMAC frame format and a signal transmitted through the optical network.

The PON-IF 104 is an interface that is used to connect the ONU and theoptical network.

An uplink main signal is transmitted to the PON-IF 104 through the UNI101, the queue managing unit 102, and the PON signal processing unit103. Meanwhile, a downlink main signal is transmitted to the UNI 101through the PON-IF 104, the PON signal processing unit 103, and thequeue managing unit 102.

In the IEEE802.3av taskforce, 10G-EPON is examined as a 10 gigabit-classPON. Meanwhile, as a technology for saving power of a communicationdevice, mounting of a sleep method that stops non-used functions in thecase where communication in a non-communication state (idle state) or anadaptive link rate method that changes a link rate according to acommunication amount is examined (for example, refer to Non-patentDocument 2).

In addition, in the IEEE802.3az taskforce, standardization of thepower-saving Ethernet® is advanced. As the conventional technology thatis related to saving of power of a communication terminal, a method thatcauses a transmitting terminal to monitor a flow control signal from areceiving terminal and perform power saving control is known (forexample, refer to Patent Document 1).

FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating an autonomous intermittent startmethod that is an example of the sleep method in two facingcommunication devices.

A second communication device 112 monitors traffic that is transmittedfrom a first communication device 111 to the second communication device112 or from the second communication device 112 to the firstcommunication device 111. Further, it sets threshold values for anarrival interval of transmission frames, an instantaneous bandwidthunder use, or a queue length in a buffer, and when it exceeds thethreshold values, it is determined to be in a non-communication state.When it is determined to be in the non-communication state, it transmitsa sleep request message to the first communication device 111 and stopspartial functions of the second communication device 112.

When the second communication device 112 starts up, it communicates withthe first communication device 111 (S1102). If the first communicationdevice 111 receives a sleep request from the second communication device112 (S1103), it transmits a confirmation response (ACK message) to thesecond communication device 112 (S1104). If the second communicationdevice 112 receives the confirmation response, it stops the partialfunctions for a predetermined period (S1105).

The second communication device 112 restarts after a predetermined timepasses (S1106), confirms existence or non-existence of the traffic withrespect to the communication device 1101 (traffic confirmation message)(S1107), and when it is in the non-communication state (NO message)(S1108), it stops the partial functions for a predetermined period(S1109). Further, it restarts after the predetermined time passes(S1110), confirms existence or non-existence of the traffic with respectto the first communication device 111 (S1111), and when frames arrive(YES message) (S1112), it restarts communication with the firstcommunication device 111 (S1113). Hereinafter, the same operation isexecuted for S1114 to S1124.

The autonomous intermittent start method can be applied to a network ofa point-to-point type topology and a point-to-multi-point type topology.For example, in the case of the EPON, power of the ONU can be saved byassociating the first communication device 111 with the OLT andassociating the second communication device 112 with the ONU.

FIG. 28 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of an opticalnetwork system of a point-to-point type. An optical network of apoint-to-point type is a network in which one optical line terminal(OLT) 93 performs one-to-one communication with one optical network unit(ONU) 91 through an optical fiber transmission path 92.

FIG. 29 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a passive opticalnetwork (PON) system of a point-to-multi-point type. The PON is anetwork in which one optical line terminal (OLT) 1030 performs 1-to-ncommunication with plural optical network units (ONU) 101 to 10 nthrough an optical fiber transmission path 1020 and a one-to-n (n refersto a natural number) optical splitter 1010. As a representative standardof a gigabit-class PON, an Ethernet® PON (EPON) that is standardized inthe IEEE802.3 is known.

FIG. 30 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a conventionalOLT in an EPON. An OLT 110 includes a PON interface (PON-IF) 111, a PONsignal processing unit 112, a queue managing unit 113, and a servicenode interface (SNI) 114.

The PON-IF 111 is an interface that is used to connect the OLT 110 andan optical network.

The PON signal processing unit 112 includes a multi-point controlprotocol (MPCP) module 115, a band allocating module 116, an operations,administration, and maintenance (OAM) module 117, a media access control(MAC) module 118, and a physical layer (PHY) module 119.

The MPCP module 115 reports a data amount in a queue included in the ONUto the ONU using a report message. The band allocating module 116monitors the data amount in the queue included in the ONU, on the basisof the report message received from the ONU, and allocates aninstantaneous bandwidth under use to each ONU. The OAM module 117exchanges a control frame for maintenance and monitor with the ONU. TheMAC module 118 controls a transmitting/receiving operation of a MACframe. The PHY module 119 that is a physical layer performs signalconversion between a signal having a MAC frame format and a signaltransmitted through the optical network.

The queue managing unit 113 queues data that is exchanged with a servicenetwork and manages the data.

The SNI 114 is an interface that is used to connect the OLT and theservice network.

A downlink main signal is transmitted to the PON-IF 111 through the SNI114, the queue managing unit 113, and the PON signal processing unit112. Meanwhile, an uplink main signal is transmitted to the SNI 114through the PON-IF 111, the PON signal processing unit 112, and thequeue managing unit 113.

FIG. 31 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a conventionalONU in an EPON. An ONU 120 includes a user network interface (UNI) 121,a queue managing unit 122, a PON signal processing unit 123, and aPON-IF 124.

The UNI 121 is an interface that is used to connect the ONU 120 and aterminal such as a PC or a router.

The queue managing unit 122 queues data that is exchanged with theterminal and manages the data.

The PON signal processing unit 123 includes an MPCP module 125, an OAMmodule 126, a MAC module 127, and a PHY module 128.

The MPCP module 125 reports a data amount in a queue to the OLT using areport message. The OAM module 126 exchanges a control frame formaintenance and monitor with the OLT. The MAC module 127 controls atransmitting/receiving operation of a MAC frame. The PHY module 128 thatis a physical layer performs signal conversion between a signal having aMAC frame format and a signal transmitted through the optical network.

The PON-IF 124 is an interface that is used to connect the ONU and theoptical network.

An uplink main signal is transmitted to the PON-IF 124 through the UNI121, the queue managing unit 122 and the PON signal processing unit 123.Meanwhile, a downlink main signal is transmitted to the UNI 121 throughthe PON-IF 124, the PON signal processing unit 123, and the queuemanaging unit 122.

In the IEEE802.3av taskforce, 10G-EPON is examined as a 10 gigabit-classPON. Meanwhile, as a technology for saving power of a communicationdevice, mounting of a sleep method that stops non-used functions in thecase where communication is in a non-communication state (idle state) oran adaptive link rate method that changes a link rate according to acommunication amount is examined (for example, refer to Non-patentDocument 2).

In addition, in the IEEE802.3az taskforce, standardization of thepower-saving Ethernet® is being progressed. As the conventionaltechnology that is related to saving of power of a communicationterminal, a method that causes a transmitting terminal to monitor a flowcontrol signal from a receiving terminal and perform power savingcontrol is known (for example, refer to Patent Document 1).

FIG. 32 is a diagram illustrating a master/slave type intermittent startmethod as an example of the sleep method in two facing communicationdevices.

A first communication device 131 monitors traffic that is transmittedfrom the first communication device 131 to a second communication device132 or from the second communication device 132 to the firstcommunication device 131. Further, it sets threshold values for anarrival interval of transmission frames, an instantaneous bandwidthunder use, or a queue length in a buffer, and when it exceeds thethreshold values, it is determined to be in a non-communication state.When it is determined to be in the non-communication state, it transmitsa sleep instruction message to the second communication device 132 andstops partial functions of the second communication device 132.

When the second communication device 132 starts up (S1301), itcommunicates with the first communication device 131 (S1302). If thesecond communication device 132 receives a sleep instruction from thefirst communication device 131 (S1303), it transmits a confirmationresponse (ACK message) to the first communication device 131 (S1304).Then, the second communication device 132 stops the partial functionsfor a predetermined period (S1305).

The second communication device 132 restarts after a predetermined timepasses (S1306), confirms existence or non-existence of the traffic withrespect to the first communication device 131 (traffic confirmationmessage) (S1307), and when it is in the non-communication state (NOmessage) (S1308), stops the partial functions for a predetermined period(S1309). Further, it restarts after the predetermined time passes(S1310), confirms existence or non-existence of the traffic with respectto the first communication device 131 (S1311), and when frames arrive(YES message) (S1312), restarts communication with the firstcommunication device 131 (S1313). Hereinafter, the same operation isexecuted for S1314 to S1324.

The master/slave type intermittent start method can be applied to anetwork of a point-to-point type topology and a point-to-multi-pointtype topology. For example, in the case of the EPON, power of the ONUcan be saved by associating the first communication device 131 with theOLT and associating the second communication device 132 with the ONU.

FIG. 33 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of an opticalnetwork system of a point-to-point type. An optical network of apoint-to-point type is a network in which one optical line terminal(OLT) 13 performs one-to-one communication with one optical network unit(ONU) 11 through an optical fiber transmission path 12.

FIG. 34 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a passive opticalnetwork (PON) system of a point-to-multi-point type. The PON is anetwork in which one optical line terminal (OLT) 230 performs 1-to-ncommunication with plural optical network units (ONU) 21 to 2 n throughan optical fiber transmission path 220 and a one-to-n (n refers to anatural number) optical splitter 210. As a representative standard of agigabit-class PON, an Ethernet® PON (EPON) that is standardized in theIEEE802.3 is known.

FIG. 35 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a conventionalOLT in an EPON. An OLT 30 includes a PON interface (PON-IF) 31, a PONsignal processing unit 32, a queue managing unit 33, and a service nodeinterface (SNI) 34. The PON-IF 31 is an interface that is used toconnect the OLT and an optical network.

The PON signal processing unit 32 includes a multi-point controlprotocol (MPCP) module 35, a band allocating module 36, an operations,administration, and maintenance (OAM) module 37, a media access control(MAC) module 38, and a physical layer (PHY) module 39.

The MPCP module 35 reports a data amount in a queue included in the ONUto the ONU using a report message. The band allocating module 36monitors the data amount in the queue in the ONU, on the basis of thereport message received from the ONU, and allocates an instantaneousbandwidth under use to each ONU. The OAM module 37 exchanges a controlframe for maintenance and monitor with the ONU. The MAC module 38controls a transmitting/receiving operation of a MAC frame. The PHYmodule 39 that is a physical layer performs signal conversion between asignal having a MAC frame format and a signal transmitted through theoptical network.

The queue managing unit 33 queues data that is exchanged with a servicenetwork and manages the data. The SNI 34 is an interface that is used toconnect the OLT and the service network. A downlink main signal istransmitted to the PON-IF 31 through the SNI 34, the queue managing unit33, and the PON signal processing unit 32. Meanwhile, an uplink mainsignal is transmitted to the SNI 34 through the PON-IF 31, the PONsignal processing unit 32, and the queue managing unit 33.

FIG. 36 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a conventionalONU in an EPON. An ONU 40 includes a user network interface (UNI) 41, aqueue managing unit 42, a PON signal processing unit 43, and a PON-IF44.

The UNI 41 is an interface that is used to connect the ONU and aterminal such as a PC or a router. The queue managing unit 42 queuesdata that is exchanged with the terminal and manages the data. The PONsignal processing unit 43 includes an MPCP module 45, an OAM module 46,a MAC module 47, and a PHY module 48.

The MPCP module 45 reports a data amount in a queue to the OLT using areport message. The OAM module 46 exchanges a control frame formaintenance and monitor with the OLT. The MAC module 47 controls atransmitting/receiving operation of a MAC frame. The PHY module 48 thatis a physical layer performs signal conversion between a signal having aMAC frame format and a signal transmitted through the optical network.The PON-IF 44 is an interface that is used to connect the ONU and theoptical network.

An uplink main signal is transmitted to the PON-IF 44 through the UNI41, the queue managing unit 42 and the PON signal processing unit 43.Meanwhile, a downlink main signal is transmitted to the UNI 41 throughthe PON-IF 44, the PON signal processing unit 43, and the queue managingunit 42.

In the IEEE802.3av taskforce, 10G-EPON is examined as a 10 gigabit-classPON. Meanwhile, as a technology for saving power of a communicationdevice, mounting of a sleep method that stops non-used functions in thecase where communication is in a non-communication state (idle state) oran adaptive link rate method that changes a link rate according to acommunication amount is examined (for example, refer to Non-patentDocument 2).

In addition, in the IEEE802.3az taskforce, standardization of thepower-saving Ethernet® is being progressed. As the conventionaltechnology that is related to saving of power of a communicationterminal, a method that causes a transmitting terminal to monitor a flowcontrol signal from a receiving terminal and perform power savingcontrol is known (for example, refer to Patent Document 1).

FIG. 37 is a diagram illustrating an autonomous intermittent startmethod as an example of the sleep method in two facing communicationdevices.

A second communication device 52 monitors traffic that is transmittedfrom a first communication device 51 to the second communication device52 or from the second communication device 52 to the first communicationdevice 51. Further, it sets threshold values for an arrival interval oftransmission frames, an instantaneous bandwidth under use, or a queuelength in a buffer, and when it exceeds the threshold values, it isdetermined to be in a non-communication state. When it is determined tobe in the non-communication state, it transmits a sleep request messageto the first communication device 51 and stops partial functions of thesecond communication device 52.

When the second communication device 52 starts up (step S501), itcommunicates with the first communication device 51 (S502). If the firstcommunication device 51 receives a sleep request from the secondcommunication device 52 (S503), it transmits a confirmation response(ACK message) to the second communication device 52 (S504). If thesecond communication device 52 receives the confirmation response, itstops the partial functions for a predetermined period (S505).

The second communication device 52 restarts after a predetermined timepasses (S506), confirms existence or non-existence of the traffic withrespect to the first communication device 51 (traffic confirmationmessage) (S507), and when it is in the non-communication state (NOmessage) (S508), stops the partial functions for a predetermined period(S509). Further, it restarts after the predetermined period passes(S510), confirms existence or non-existence of the traffic with respectto the first communication device 51 (S511), and when frames arrive (YESmessage) (S512), restarts communication with the first communicationdevice 51 (S513). Hereinafter, the same operation is executed for S514to S524.

The autonomous intermittent start method can be applied to a network ofa point-to-point type topology and a point-to-multi-point type topology.For example, in the case of the EPON, power of the ONU can be saved byassociating the first communication device 51 with the OLT andassociating the second communication device 52 with the ONU.

FIG. 38 is a diagram illustrating a master/slave type intermittent startmethod as an example of the sleep method in two facing communicationdevices.

A third communication device 61 monitors traffic that is transmittedfrom the third communication device 61 to a fourth communication device62 or from the fourth communication device 62 to the third communicationdevice 61. Further, it sets threshold values for an arrival interval oftransmission frames, an instantaneous bandwidth under use, or a queuelength in a buffer, and when it exceeds the threshold values, it isdetermined to be in a non-communication state. When it is determined tobe in the non-communication state, it transmits a sleep instructionmessage to the fourth communication device 62 and stops partialfunctions of the fourth communication device 62.

When the fourth communication device 62 starts up (S601), itcommunicates with the third communication device 61 (S602). If thefourth communication device 62 receives a sleep instruction from thethird communication device 61 (S603), it transmits a confirmationresponse (ACK message) to the third communication device 61 (S604).Then, the fourth communication device 62 stops partial functions for apredetermined period (S605).

The fourth communication device 62 restarts after the predetermined timepasses (S606), confirms existence or non-existence of the traffic withrespect to the third communication device 61 (traffic confirmationmessage) (S607), and when it is in the non-communication state (NOmessage) (S608), stops the partial functions for a predetermined period(S609). Further, it restarts after the predetermined period passes(S610), confirms existence or non-existence of the traffic with respectto the third communication device 61 (S611), and when frames arrive (YESmessage) (S612), restarts communication with the third communicationdevice 61 (S613). Hereinafter, the same operation is executed for S614to S624.

The master/slave type intermittent start method can be applied to anetwork of a point-to-point type topology and a point-to-multi-pointtype topology. For example, in the case of the EPON, power of the ONUcan be saved by associating the third communication device 61 with theOLT and associating the fourth communication device 62 with the ONU.

-   Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.    2008-263281

NON-PATENT DOCUMENT

-   Non-patent Document 1: Tsutomu Tatsuta, Noriyuki Oota, Noriki Miki,    and Kiyomi Kumozaki, “Design philosophy and performance of a GE-PON    system for mass deployment”, JOURNAL OF OPTICAL NETWORKING, Vol. 6,    No. 6, June 2007.-   Non-patent Document 2: Sergiu Nedevschi, Lucian Popa, Gianluca    Iannaccone, Sylvia Ratnasamy, David Wetherall, “Reducing network    energy consumption via sleeping and rate-adaptation”, Proceedings of    the 5th USENIX Symposium on Networked Systems Design and    Implementation, pp. 323-336, 2008.

However, in the PON that performs the point-to-multi-point communicationthrough the optical splitter, the signal that is transmitted from theOLT may be physically broadcast to all ONUs. For this reason, only thespecific ONU cannot be returned from the sleep state with ON/OFF of aphysical signal as a trigger, and the other ONUs that enter into thesleep state may be returned from the sleep state. As a result, there hasbeen a problem in that an increase in consumption power of the entireoptical network may be caused by connecting the plural ONUS in thenon-communication state.

Further, even in the optical network that performs the point-to-pointcommunication, there has been a problem in that a receiving unit of theONU cannot be completely stopped to return the ONU from the sleep statewith ON/OFF of the physical signal as the trigger.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure has been made in view of the above problems and afirst object of the present disclosure is to provide an optical lineterminal and an optical network unit that can solve a problem of anincrease in consumption power of an entire optical network becauseplural ONUS in a non-communication state are connected.

In the communication devices described above, similar to unknowntraffic, a communication state is determined using only an arrivalinterval of frames, an instantaneous bandwidth under use, or a queuelength in a buffer, with respect to traffic of which trafficcharacteristics such as the frame arrival interval and the instantaneousbandwidth under use are previously known. For this reason, there hasbeen a problem in that disconnection or an increase in frametransmission delay may be caused due to carelessness.

To solve the above problem, a second object of the present disclosure isto provide an optical line terminal and an optical network unit that cansave power of communication devices without deteriorating acommunication quality of specific traffic.

In the communication devices described above, similar to unknowntraffic, a communication state is determined using only an arrivalinterval of frames, an instantaneous bandwidth under use, or a queuelength in a buffer, with respect to traffic of which trafficcharacteristics such as the frame arrival interval and the instantaneousbandwidth under use are previously known. For this reason, there is aproblem in that disconnection or an increase in frame transmission delaymay be caused due to carelessness.

To solve the above problem, a third object of the present disclosure isto provide an optical line terminal and an optical network unit that cansave power of communication devices without deteriorating acommunication quality of specific traffic.

In the devices described above, the stop time of the partial functionsof the ONU is set to a predetermined value, so that there has been aproblem in that consumption power of the ONU cannot be efficientlydecreased according to the traffic characteristics, such as the framearrival interval, the instantaneous bandwidth under use, the queuelength in the buffer, and the traffic type.

The present disclosure has been made in view of the above problems and afourth object of the present disclosure is to provide an optical lineterminal and an optical network unit that can solve a problem of anincrease in consumption power of an entire optical network which resultsfrom plural ONUS being connected in a non-communication state.

In order to achieve the first object described above, the presentdisclosure provides an optical line terminal in an optical network inwhich the optical line terminal (OLT) and an optical network unit (ONU)communicate with each other through an optical fiber transmission path,the optical line terminal including: an observing unit that observesinformation of at least one of an arrival interval of frames transmittedto the ONU or frames received from the ONU, an instantaneous bandwidthunder use of a flow transmitted to the ONU or a flow received from theONU, and a queue length of a queue temporarily storing the framestransmitted to the ONU or a queue temporarily storing the framesreceived from the ONU; and a calculating unit that dynamicallydetermines a sleep time to be a period in which a sleep state wherenon-used functions of the ONU are stopped is maintained, on the basis ofthe information obtained by the observing unit, wherein there is acharacteristic that a control signal to notify the ONU of a sleep stateentering request and the sleep time is transmitted to the ONU,immediately after communication with the ONU ends, after a predeterminedtime passes from when the communication with the ONU ends, or after atime determined on the basis of the information passes from when thecommunication with the ONU ends.

It is preferable that a maximum value and a minimum value are set forthe sleep time, and the ONU is maintained in a normal state in the caseof at least one of the case where the arrival interval of the framesobtained by the observing unit is smaller than a threshold value of thearrival interval of the frames, the case where the instantaneousbandwidth under use is greater than a threshold value of theinstantaneous bandwidth under use, and the case where the queue lengthis greater than a threshold value of the queue length, and the ONU isentered into the sleep state in the case of at least one of the casewhere the arrival interval of the frames obtained by the observing unitis equal to or greater than the threshold value of the arrival intervalof the frames, the case where the instantaneous bandwidth under use isequal to or smaller than the threshold value of the instantaneousbandwidth under use, and the case where the queue length is equal to orsmaller than the threshold value of the queue length, and the sleep timeis set to a value between the maximum value and the minimum value.

It is preferable that, when the arrival interval of the frames obtainedby the observing unit is equal to or greater than the threshold value ofthe arrival interval of the frames, the sleep time is calculated usingfollowing equations:

T1=Tmin+(Tmax−Tmin)*f(p)

f(p)=(1−(Th1/p)) or

f(p)=(p−Th1)/(Th1′−Th1)

(in this case, T1 indicates the sleep time, Tmin indicates the minimumvalue of the sleep time, Tmax indicates the maximum value of the sleeptime, Th1 indicates the threshold value of the arrival interval of theframes, p indicates the arrival interval of the frames, and Th1′indicates the maximum threshold value of the arrival interval of theframes),

when the instantaneous bandwidth under use obtained by the observingunit is equal to or smaller than the threshold value of theinstantaneous bandwidth under use, the sleep time is calculated usingfollowing equations:

T1=Tmin+(Tmax−Tmin)*f(B)

f(B)=(1−(B/Th2)) or

f(B)=(Th2−B)/(Th2−Th2′)

(in this case, T1 indicates the sleep time, Tmin indicates the minimumvalue of the sleep time, Tmax indicates the maximum value of the sleeptime, Th2 indicates the threshold value of the instantaneous bandwidthunder use, B indicates the instantaneous bandwidth under use, and Th2′indicates the minimum threshold value of the instantaneous bandwidthunder use),

when the queue length obtained by the observing unit is equal to orsmaller than the threshold value of the queue length, the sleep time iscalculated using following equations:

T1=Tmin+(Tmax−Tmin)*f(q)

f(q)=(1−(q/Th3)) or

f(q)=(Th3−q)/(Th3−Th3′)

(in this case, T1 indicates the sleep time, Tmin indicates the minimumvalue of the sleep time, Tmax indicates the maximum value of the sleeptime, Th3 indicates the threshold value of the queue length, q indicatesthe queue length, and Th3′ indicates the minimum threshold value of thequeue length), and any one of the calculated sleep times is determinedas the sleep time.

It is preferable that an average value of information obtained during apast predetermined period is used in at least one of the information ofthe arrival interval of the frames, the instantaneous bandwidth underuse, and the queue length.

The present disclosure also provides an optical line terminal in anoptical network in which the optical line terminal (OLT) and an opticalnetwork unit (ONU) communicate with each other through an optical fibertransmission path, the optical line terminal including: an observingunit that observes at least one of protocol information and priorityinformation of frames transmitted to the ONU and frames received fromthe ONU; a table where the priority information and/or the protocolinformation is associated with a sleep time to be a period in which asleep state where non-used functions of the ONU are stopped ismaintained; and a table associating unit that dynamically determines thesleep time of the ONU by referring to the table, on the basis of thepriority information and/or the protocol information obtained by theobserving unit, wherein there is a characteristic that a control signalto notify the ONU of a sleep state entering request and the sleep timeis transmitted to the ONU, immediately after communication with the ONUends, after a predetermined time passes from when the communication withthe ONU ends, or after a time determined on the basis of the priorityinformation and/or the protocol information passes from when thecommunication with the ONU ends.

The present disclosure also provides an optical network unit in anoptical network in which an optical line terminal (OLT) and the opticalnetwork unit (ONU) communicate with each other through an optical fibertransmission path, the optical network unit including: a sleep unit thatstops non-used functions to enter into a sleep state, wherein there is acharacteristic that a sleep state entering request and a sleep time tobe a period in which the sleep state is maintained are recognized usinga control signal received from the OLT, the optical network unit entersinto the sleep state by the sleep unit, immediately after the controlsignal is received, after a predetermined time passes from when thecontrol signal is received, or after a time designated by the OLTpasses, and the optical network unit returns to a normal state after thesleep time passes.

The present disclosure also provides an optical network systemincluding: one optical line terminal (OLT) described above; and oneoptical network unit (ONU) described above, wherein there is acharacteristic that the OLT performs point-to-point communication withthe ONU through an optical fiber transmission path.

The present disclosure also provides an optical network systemincluding: one optical line terminal (OLT) described above; and aplurality of optical network units (ONU) described above, wherein thereis a characteristic that the OLT performs point-to-multi-pointcommunication with the ONUS through an optical fiber transmission path.

The present disclosure also provides a method of controlling a sleepstate of an optical network unit in an optical network in which anoptical line terminal (OLT) and the optical network unit (ONU)communicate with each other through an optical fiber transmission path,wherein there is a characteristic that the method includes: a step thatOLT observes information of at least one of an arrival interval offrames transmitted to the ONU or frames received from the ONU, aninstantaneous bandwidth under use of a flow transmitted to the ONU or aflow received from the ONU, and a queue length of a queue temporarilystoring the frames transmitted to the ONU or a queue temporarily storingthe frames received from the ONU; a step that OLT dynamically determinesa sleep time to be a period in which a sleep state where non-usedfunctions of the ONU are stopped is maintained, on the basis of theinformation obtained by the observing; a step that OLT transmits acontrol signal to notify the ONU of a sleep state entering request andthe sleep time to the ONU, immediately after communication with the ONUends, after a predetermined time passes from when the communication withthe ONU ends, or after a time determined on the basis of the informationpasses from when the communication with the ONU ends; a step that ONUrecognizes the sleep state entering request and the sleep time using thecontrol signal received from the OLT; and a step that ONU enters intothe sleep state immediately after the control signal is received, aftera predetermined time passes from when the control signal is received, orafter a time designated by the OLT passes from when the control signalis received, and return to a normal state after the sleep time passes.

The present disclosure also provides a method of controlling a sleepstate of an optical network unit in an optical network in which anoptical line terminal (OLT) and the optical network unit (ONU)communicate with each other through an optical fiber transmission path,wherein there is a characteristic that the method includes: a step thatOLT observes at least one of protocol information and priorityinformation of frames transmitted to the ONU and frames received fromthe ONU; a step that OLT dynamically determines the sleep time of theONU by referring to a table where the priority information and/or theprotocol information is associated with a sleep time to be a period inwhich a sleep state where non-used functions of the ONU are stopped ismaintained, on the basis of the priority information and/or the protocolinformation to be observed; a step that OLT transmits a control signalto notify the ONU of a sleep state entering request and the sleep timeto the ONU, immediately after communication with the ONU ends, after apredetermined time passes from when the communication with the ONU ends,or after a time determined on the basis of the priority informationand/or the protocol information passes from when the communication withthe ONU ends; a step that ONU recognizes the sleep state enteringrequest and the sleep time using the control signal received from theOLT; and a step that ONU enters into the sleep state immediately afterthe control signal is received, after a predetermined time passes fromwhen the control signal is received, or after a time designated by theOLT passes from when the control signal is received, and return to anormal state after the sleep time passes.

Also, there is a characteristic in order to solve the second problemdescribed above, when the specific traffic exists, the secondcommunication device has a function of stopping or canceling the partialfunctions of the second communication device, so that power of thesecond communication device is saved while a communication quality ismaintained. That is, an optical network unit according to the presentdisclosure is an ONU that is used in an optical network in which oneoptical line terminal (OLT) performs point-to-point orpoint-to-multi-point communication with one or more optical networkunits (ONU) through an optical fiber transmission path and saves powerof the optical network. The ONU includes an observing unit that observesa traffic amount in a predetermined time and existence or non-existenceof traffic of one or more specific types in the predetermined time, astop determining unit that determines whether partial functions of theONU are stopped, on the basis of the traffic amount and the existence ornon-existence of the traffic of the specific types observed by theobserving unit, and a stopping unit that stops the partial functions ofthe ONU for a second predetermined time, when the stop determining unitdetermines the stop of the partial functions.

Also, there is a characteristic in the optical network unit according tothe present disclosure, the stop determining unit has a function ofdetermining the non-stop of the partial functions, when the trafficamount observed by the observing unit is equal to or smaller than athreshold value but the traffic of the specific types exists.

Also, there is a characteristic in the optical network unit according tothe present disclosure, the stop determining unit has a function ofdetermining the stop of the partial functions, when the traffic amountobserved by the observing unit is equal to or greater than the thresholdvalue and the traffic is only traffic of specific types transmitted witha predetermined cycle.

Also, there is a characteristic in the optical network unit according tothe present disclosure, the stop determining unit determines that thetraffic of the specific types exists, when the observing unit observesone or more frames corresponding to the traffic of the specific types inthe first predetermined time or a session of the traffic of the specifictypes is continuing in the first predetermined time.

Also, there is a characteristic in the optical network unit according tothe present disclosure, the observing unit uses a value of a type ofservice (ToS) or a value of a class of service (CoS) and/or a reportmessage transmitted to the OLT, when the frames of the specific typesare observed.

Also, there is a characteristic in the optical network unit according tothe present disclosure, the observing unit does not observe the framesthat are discarded in the ONU.

Also, there is a characteristic in the optical network unit according tothe present disclosure, the traffic of the specific types includes atleast one of voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) traffic, real-timetransport protocol (RTP) traffic, and traffic having the specificpriority.

Also, there is a characteristic in the optical network unit according tothe present disclosure, the ONU has a unit of notifying the OLT that thepartial functions of the ONU are stopped or the partial functions of theONU are not stopped.

Also, there is a characteristic in the optical network unit according tothe present disclosure, the stopping unit has a function of immediatelystarting the stopped partial functions, when the frames from a terminalconnected to the ONU are received, while the partial functions arestopped.

Further, an optical line terminal according to the present disclosure isconnected to the optical network unit of any one of a first to ninthaspects, wherein there is a characteristic that the OLT includes a unitthat temporarily stores the arrived frames, when the traffic to betransmitted to the ONU is generated, while the ONU stops the partialfunctions

In order to solve the third problem described above, when the specifictraffic exists, the first communication device has a function ofstopping or canceling the partial functions of the second communicationdevice, so that power of the second communication device is saved whilea communication quality is maintained. That is, an optical line terminalaccording to the present disclosure is an OLT that is used in an opticalnetwork in which one optical line terminal (OLT) performs point-to-pointor point-to-multi-point communication with one or more optical networkunits (ONU) through an optical fiber transmission path and saves powerof the optical network. It is a characteristic of the OLT to include anobserving unit that observes a traffic amount in a first predeterminedtime and existence or non-existence of traffic of one or more specifictypes in the first predetermined time, for each traffic with respect toeach ONU connected to the OLT, and a stop determining unit thatdetermines whether partial functions of the ONU are stopped, on thebasis of the traffic amount and the existence or non-existence of thetraffic of the specific types observed by the observing unit.

Also, there is a characteristic in the optical line terminal accordingto the present disclosure, the stop determining unit has a function ofdetermining the non-stop of the partial functions, when the trafficamount observed by the observing unit is equal to or smaller than athreshold value but the traffic of the specific types exists.

Also, there is a characteristic in the optical line terminal accordingto the present disclosure, the stop determining unit has a function ofdetermining the stop of the partial functions, when the traffic amountobserved by the observing unit is equal to or greater than the thresholdvalue and the traffic is only traffic of specific types transmitted witha predetermined cycle.

Also, there is a characteristic in the optical line terminal accordingto the present disclosure, the stop determining unit determines that thetraffic of the specific types exists, when the observing unit observesone or more frames corresponding to the traffic of the specific types inthe first predetermined time or the observing unit observes that asession of the traffic of the specific types is continuing in the firstpredetermined time.

Also, there is a characteristic in the optical line terminal accordingto the present disclosure, the observing unit uses a value of a type ofservice (ToS) or a value of a class of service (CoS) and/or a reportmessage received from the ONU, when the frames of the specific type areobserved.

Also, there is a characteristic in the optical line terminal accordingto the present disclosure, the observing unit does not observe theframes that are discarded in the ONU.

Also, there is a characteristic in the optical line terminal accordingto the present disclosure, the traffic of the specific types includes atleast one of voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) traffic, real-timetransport protocol (RTP) traffic, and traffic having the specificpriority.

Also, there is a characteristic in the optical line terminal accordingto the present disclosure, the ONU further includes a unit thattemporarily stores the arrived frames, when the ONU is in a stop stateand the traffic to be transmitted to the ONU is generated.

Further, according to the present disclosure, an optical network unitthat is connected to the optical line terminal of any one of the firstto eighth aspects, wherein there is a characteristic that the ONUincludes a stopping unit that stops the partial functions of the ONU fora second predetermined time, when the stop determining unit of the OLTdetermines the stop of the partial functions.

Also, there is a characteristic in the optical network unit, thestopping unit has a function of immediately starting the stopped partialfunctions, when the frames are received from a terminal connected to theONU, while the partial functions are stopped.

In order to solve the fourth problem described above, the presentdisclosure provides an optical network in which one optical lineterminal (OLT) performs point-to-point or point-to-multi-pointcommunication with one or more optical network units (ONU) through anoptical fiber transmission path, wherein there is a characteristic thatthe OLT or the ONU includes: an observing unit that observes informationof at least one of an arrival interval of frames, an instantaneousbandwidth under use of a flow, a queue length of a queue temporarilystoring the frames, and a traffic type; and a stop determining unit thatdynamically determines a sleep time to be a period in which a sleepstate where partial functions of the ONU are stopped is maintained, onthe basis of the information obtained by the observing unit, and whereinthere is a characteristic that the ONU includes: a stopping unit thatenters the ONU into a sleep state, immediately after communication ends,after a predetermined waiting time passes from when the communicationends, or after a waiting time determined by the stop determining unit onthe basis of the information passes from when the communication ends.

Also, there is a characteristic in the optical network according to thepresent disclosure, the stop determining unit sets a maximum value and aminimum value for the sleep time, and maintains the ONU in a normalstate, in the case of at least one of the case where the arrivalinterval of the frames obtained by the observing unit is smaller than athreshold value of the arrival interval of the frames, the case wherethe instantaneous bandwidth under use is greater than a threshold valueof the instantaneous bandwidth under use, and the case where the queuelength is greater than a threshold value of the queue length, and thestop determining unit enters the ONU into the sleep state in the case ofat least one of the case where the arrival interval of the framesobtained by the observing unit is equal to or greater than the thresholdvalue of the arrival interval of the frames, the case where theinstantaneous bandwidth under use is equal to or smaller than thethreshold value of the instantaneous bandwidth under use, and the casewhere the queue length is equal to or smaller than the threshold valueof the queue length, and sets the sleep time to a value between themaximum value and the minimum value.

There is a characteristic in the optical network according to thepresent disclosure that, when the arrival interval of the framesobtained by the observing unit is equal to or greater than the thresholdvalue of the arrival interval of the frames, the stop determining unitcalculates the sleep time using following equations:

T1=Tmin+(Tmax−Tmin)*f(p)

f(p)=(1−(Th1/p)) or

f(p)=(p−Th1)/(Th1′−Th1)

(in this case, T1 indicates the sleep time, Tmin indicates the minimumvalue of the sleep time, Tmax indicates the maximum value of the sleeptime, Th1 indicates the threshold value of the arrival interval of theframes, p indicates the arrival interval of the frames, and Th1′indicates the maximum threshold value of the arrival interval of theframes),

when the instantaneous bandwidth under use obtained by the observingunit is equal to or smaller than the threshold value of theinstantaneous bandwidth under use, the stop determining unit calculatesthe sleep time using following equations:

T1=Tmin+(Tmax−Tmin)*f(B)

f(B)=(1−(B/Th2)) or

f(B)=(Th2−B)/(Th2−Th2′)

(in this case, T1 indicates the sleep time, Tmin indicates the minimumvalue of the sleep time, Tmax indicates the maximum value of the sleeptime, Th2 indicates the threshold value of the instantaneous bandwidthunder use, B indicates the instantaneous bandwidth under use, and Th2′indicates the minimum threshold value of the instantaneous bandwidthunder use),

when the queue length obtained by the observing unit is equal to orsmaller than the threshold value of the queue length, the stopdetermining unit calculates the sleep time using following equations:

T1=Tmin+(Tmax−Tmin)*f(q)

f(q)=(1−(q/Th3)) or

f(q)=(Th3−q)/(Th3−Th3′)

(in this case, T1 indicates the sleep time, Tmin indicates the minimumvalue of the sleep time, Tmax indicates the maximum value of the sleeptime, Th3 indicates the threshold value of the queue length, q indicatesthe queue length, and Th3′ indicates the minimum threshold value of thequeue length), and

any one of the calculated sleep times is determined as the sleep time.

There is a characteristic in the optical network according to thepresent disclosure that, the stop determining unit uses an average valueof information obtained during a past predetermined period in at leastone of information of the arrival interval of the frames, theinstantaneous bandwidth under use, and the queue length.

There is a characteristic in the optical network according to thepresent disclosure that, the stop determining unit determines that theONU is maintained in the normal state, when the traffic of the specifictypes is observed by the observing unit.

There is a characteristic in the optical network according to thepresent disclosure that, the observing unit uses a value of a type ofservice (ToS) or a value of a class of service (CoS) and/or a reportmessage transmitted to the OLT, when the traffic of the specific typesis observed.

There is a characteristic in the optical network according to thepresent disclosure that, the observing unit does not observe the framesthat are discarded in the ONU.

There is a characteristic in the optical network according to thepresent disclosure that, the traffic of the specific types includes atleast one of voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) traffic, real-timetransport protocol (RTP) traffic, and traffic having the specificpriority.

There is a characteristic in the optical network according to thepresent disclosure that, the ONU has a function of notifying the OLTthat the partial functions of the ONU are stopped or the partialfunctions of the ONU are not stopped.

There is a characteristic in the optical network according to thepresent disclosure that, the stopping unit of the ONU has a function ofimmediately starting the stopped partial functions, when the frames arereceived from the terminal connected to the ONU, while the partialfunctions are stopped.

There is a characteristic in the optical network according to thepresent disclosure that, the OLT includes a unit that temporarily storesthe arrived frames, when the traffic to be transmitted to the ONU isgenerated, while the ONU stops the partial functions.

The present disclosure can provide an optical line terminal and anoptical network unit that can solve a problem of an increase inconsumption power of an entire optical network which results from pluralONUS being connected in a non-communication state.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of an optical networksystem.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a PON system.

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of a conventional OLT in an EPON.

FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of a conventional ONU in an EPON.

FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram of an OLT according to Embodiment1-1 of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram of an OLT according to Embodiment1-2 of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7 is a functional block diagram of an ONU according to Embodiment1-1 and Embodiment 1-2 of the present disclosure.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a message exchanging sequence of an OLTand an ONU.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of an ONU accordingto the present disclosure.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating functions of an ONU according to thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an operation of an ONU according tothe present disclosure.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of an ONU accordingto Embodiment 2-2 of the present disclosure.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a frame format of a report message.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a stop determining method of an ONUaccording to Embodiment 2-3 of the present disclosure.

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of an opticalnetwork system of a point-to-point type.

FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a PON system.

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a conventionalOLT.

FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a conventionalONU.

FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating an autonomous intermittent startmethod.

FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of an OLT accordingto the present disclosure.

FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of an ONU accordingto the present disclosure.

FIG. 22 is a diagram illustrating functions of an OLT according to thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 23 is a diagram illustrating an operation of an OLT according tothe present disclosure.

FIG. 24 is a diagram illustrating an operation of an ONU according tothe present disclosure.

FIG. 25 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of an OLT accordingto Embodiment 3-2 of the present disclosure.

FIG. 26 is a diagram illustrating a frame format of a report message.

FIG. 27 is a diagram illustrating a stop determining method of an OLTaccording to Embodiment 3-3 of the present disclosure.

FIG. 28 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of an opticalnetwork system of a point-to-point type.

FIG. 29 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a PON system.

FIG. 30 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a conventionalOLT.

FIG. 31 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a conventionalONU.

FIG. 32 is a diagram illustrating a master/slave type intermittent startmethod.

FIG. 33 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of an opticalnetwork system.

FIG. 34 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a PON system.

FIG. 35 is a functional block diagram of a conventional OLT in an EPON.

FIG. 36 is a functional block diagram of a conventional ONU in an EPON.

FIG. 37 is a diagram illustrating an autonomous intermittent startmethod.

FIG. 38 is a diagram illustrating a master/slave type intermittent startmethod.

FIG. 39 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of an ONU accordingto the present disclosure.

FIG. 40 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of an OLT accordingto the present disclosure.

FIG. 41 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of an ONU accordingto the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be describedwith reference to the accompanying drawings. The embodiments to bedescribed below are exemplary and do not limit the present disclosure.In this specification and drawings, the same reference numerals denotethe same components.

The embodiments of the present disclosure will be described withreference to the drawings.

Embodiment 1-1

Hereinafter, Embodiment 1-1 that uses an optical line terminal (OLT)according to the present disclosure will be described with reference tothe drawings. FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram of an OLT accordingto Embodiment 1-1. An OLT 10 that is illustrated in FIG. 5 includes aPON interface (PON-IF) port 1, a PON signal processing unit 2, a queuemanaging unit 3, a service node interface (SNI) port 4, an observingunit 5, and a calculating unit 6.

The OLT 10 includes the observing unit 5 and the observing unit 5observes information (hereinafter, referred to as traffic information)of any one or all of an arrival interval p of frames that aretransmitted to an ONU and/or received from the ONU, an instantaneousbandwidth under use B of a flow that is transmitted to the ONU and/orreceived from the ONU, and a queue length q of a queue that temporarilystores the frames transmitted to the ONU and/or received from the ONU.In this case, the observing unit 5 may observe only the frames that arenot discarded in an ONU of an observation object. That is, the framesthat are previously recognized by the OLT side as frames being filteredand discarded in the ONU of the observation object may not be includedin the observation objects. For example, as a method that realizesmulticast communication in the PON, a method that transmits the framesbroadcast from the OLT to all ONUS and filters the frames usingidentifiers of the frames at the ONU side is considered. Even in thiscase, since the OLT holds an association table of the ONUS of theobjects performing the multicast communication and the frameidentifiers, the ONU of the transmission destination can be specified atthe OLT side. Even when a protocol filter to filter a specific protocolis mounted in the ONU, if filter information is held by the OLT, thesame application can be made.

The OLT 10 includes the calculating unit 6 and the calculating unit 6calculates a period (sleep time) T1 in which a state where non-usedfunctions of the ONU are stopped is maintained, on the basis of thetraffic information obtained by the observing unit 5. The OLT 10 has afunction of transmitting a request for causing the specific ONU to enterinto a state (sleep state) where non-used functions are stopped and thesleep time T1 calculated by the calculating unit 6, to the ONU using theMPCP unit. In this case, a message to request for entering into thesleep state is defined as a sleep state entering request message. Thecalculating unit 6 may calculate a time T2 until the ONU enters into thesleep state after receiving the sleep state entering request message.The sleep state entering request message may include information of thesleep time T1 or information of the time T2 until the ONU enters intothe sleep state after receiving the sleep state entering requestmessage. Timing when the sleep state entering request message (controlsignal) is transmitted to the ONU may be timing immediately aftertransmission of the frames with respect to the object ONU ends, timingafter a predetermined time passes from when the transmission of theframes with respect to the object ONU ends, or timing after a time T3determined on the basis of the traffic information passes from when thetransmission of the frames with respect to the object ONU ends. In thiscase, the OLT 10 may have a function of stopping the transmission of thesleep state entering request message after the arrival of thetransmission frames or may have a function of transmitting asleepentering request release message to the ONU.

In addition, it is determined that the transmission of the frames withrespect to the object ONU ends, when the frame arrival interval pbecomes a predetermined time Tp or more, the instantaneous bandwidthunder use B becomes a period 0 of a predetermined time TB, or the queuelength q becomes a period 0 of a predetermined time Tq. Values of Tp,TB, and Tq are preferably determined in consideration of a frameinterval of VoIP traffic or video system traffic.

The OLT 10 has a function of transmitting the frames arrived at the OLTto the ONU, when the ONU is in a normal state, and temporarily storingthe frames arrived at the OLT in the queue in the OLT, when the ONU isin a sleep state. The OLT 10 may determine whether the ONU is in thesleep state or the normal state, using a message transmitted from theONU, or assume whether the ONU is in the sleep state or the normalstate, using a timer in the OLT. When all ONUS connected to the OLT 10are in the sleep state, the OLT 10 may stop the non-used functions ofthe OLT 10 and enter into the sleep state. The OLT 10 may have afunction of immediately returning the OLT 10 to the normal state, whenreceiving the frames from the SNI port 4 and/or the PON-IF port 1.

Next, a sequence of dynamically determining the sleep time T1 in thecalculating unit 6 on the basis of the arrival interval p of the framestransmitted to the ONU and/or received from the ONU, which is obtainedby the observing unit 5, will be described.

The OLT side sets a maximum value Tmax and a minimum value Tmin to thesleep time T1. When the arrival interval p of the frames obtained by theobserving unit 5 is smaller than a threshold value Th1, the ONU ismaintained in the normal state. When the arrival interval p of theframes obtained by the observing unit 5 is equal to or greater than thethreshold value Th1, the ONU enters into the sleep state and the sleeptime T1 is set to a value between the maximum value Tmax and the minimumvalue Tmin. For example, the sleep time T1 is calculated asT1=Tmin+(Tmax−Tmin)*f(p), using a specific function f(p). As an exampleof f(p), f(p)=(1−(Th1/p)) is considered. In this case, T1 is calculatedas T1=Tmin+(Tmax−Tmin)*(1−(Th1/p)).

When the specific function f(p) is linearly changed, f(p)=(p−Th1)/(Th1′−Th1) is considered. In this case, Th1′ indicates amaximum threshold value of the frame arrival interval. T1 becomes 0 inthe case of p<Th1 and T1 becomes Tmax in the case of p≧Th1′.

Next, a sequence of dynamically determining the sleep time T1 in thecalculating unit 6 on the basis of the instantaneous bandwidth under useB of the flow transmitted to the ONU and/or received from the ONU, whichis obtained by the observing unit 5, will be described.

The OLT side sets a maximum value Tmax and a minimum value Tmin to thesleep time T1. When the instantaneous bandwidth under use B obtained bythe observing unit 5 is greater than a threshold value Th2, the ONU ismaintained in the normal state. When the instantaneous bandwidth underuse B obtained by the observing unit 5 is equal to or smaller than thethreshold value Th2, the ONU enters into the sleep state and the sleeptime T1 is set to a value between the maximum value Tmax and the minimumvalue Tmin. For example, the sleep time T1 is calculated asT1=Tmin+(Tmax−Tmin)*f(B), using a specific function f(B). As an exampleof f(B), f(B)=(1−(B/Th2)) is considered. In this case, T1 is calculatedas T1=Tmin+(Tmax−Tmin)*(1−(B/Th2)).

When the specific function f(B) is linearly changed,f(B)=(Th2−B)/(Th2−Th2′) is considered. In this case, Th2′ indicates aminimum threshold value of the instantaneous bandwidth under use B. T1becomes 0 in the case of B>Th2 and T1 becomes Tmax in the case of BTh2′.

Next, a sequence of dynamically determining the sleep time T1 in thecalculating unit 6 on the basis of the queue length q of the queuetemporarily storing the frames transmitted to the ONU and/or receivedfrom the ONU, which is obtained by the observing unit 5, will bedescribed.

The OLT side sets a maximum value Tmax and a minimum value Tmin to thesleep time T1. When the queue length q obtained by the observing unit 5is greater than a threshold value Th3, the ONU is maintained in thenormal state. When the queue length q obtained by the observing unit 5is equal to or smaller than the threshold value Th3, the ONU enters intothe sleep state and the sleep time T1 is set to a value between themaximum value Tmax and the minimum value Tmin. For example, the sleeptime T1 is calculated as T1=Tmin+(Tmax−Tmin)*f(q), using a specificfunction f(q). As an example of f(q), f(q)=(1−(q/Th3)) is considered. Inthis case, T1 is calculated as T1=Tmin+(Tmax−Tmin)*(1−(q/Th3)).

When the specific function f(q) is linearly changed,f(q)=(Th3−q)/(Th3−Th3′) is considered. In this case, Th3′ indicates aminimum threshold value of the queue length. T1 becomes 0 in the case ofq (Th3 and T1 becomes Tmax in the case of q (Th3′.

In addition, instantaneous values or average values of informationobtained during the past predetermined period may be used in any one orall of the information of the arrival interval p of the frames, theinstantaneous bandwidth under use B, and the queue length q. The averagevalues include a simple moving average, a weighting moving average, andan index smooth average.

When two or more information of the information of the arrival intervalp of the frames, the instantaneous bandwidth under use B, and the queuelength q is observed and each of the sleep times is calculated, anaverage value of each of the calculated sleep times may be used as afinal sleep time or a minimum value or a maximum value may be used asthe final sleep time.

In the embodiment described above, the method of calculating the sleeptime T1 is described. However, the times T2 and T3 described above maybe calculated by the same method.

The maximum value Tmax and the minimum value Tmin described above arepreferably determined by performing a simulation and considering a QoSparameter such as a maximum delay time or an average delay time.

Also, the threshold values are preferably determined in consideration ofa QoS parameter such as a delay time. Specifically, the same value asthe minimum sleep time Tmin or more may be used with respect to p and 0may be used with respect to B and q. In all the cases, comparisons ofthe average values and the threshold values of the past several samplesare considered.

Further, in implementation, the time T1, T2, and T3 may be set to becomediscontinuous and approximated to multiple values.

Embodiment 1-2

Hereinafter, Embodiment 1-2 that uses an optical line terminal (OLT)according to the present disclosure will be described with reference tothe drawings. FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram of an OLT accordingto Embodiment 1-2. An OLT 20 that is illustrated in FIG. 6 includes aPON interface (PON-IF) port 1, a PON signal processing unit 2, a queuemanaging unit 3, a service node interface (SNI) port 4, an observingunit 7, and a table associating unit 8.

The OLT 20 includes the observing unit 7 and the observing unit 7observes protocol information and/or priority information of frames thatare transmitted to an ONU and/or frames that are received from the ONU.The OLT 20 has a table (not illustrated in the drawings) where thepriority information and/or the protocol information and the sleep timeof the ONU are associated with each other. In this case, the observingunit 7 may observe only the frames that are not discarded in an ONU ofan observation object. That is, the frames that are previouslyrecognized by the side of the OLT side as frames being filtered anddiscarded in the ONU of the observation object may not be included inthe observation objects. For example, as a method that realizesmulticast communication in the PON, a method that transmits the framesbroadcast from the OLT to all ONUS and filters the frames usingidentifiers of the frames at the side of the ONU is considered. Even inthis case, since the OLT holds an association table of the ONUS of theobject performing the multicast communication and the frame identifiers,the transmission destination ONU can be specified at the side of theOLT. Even when a protocol filter to filter a specific protocol ismounted in the ONU, if filter information is held by the OLT, the sameapplication can be made.

The OLT 20 includes the table associating unit 8 and the tableassociating unit 8 dynamically determines the sleep time T4 of the ONUby referring to the table, on the basis of the priority informationand/or the protocol information obtained by the observing unit 7. TheOLT 20 has a function of transmitting a request for causing the specificONU to enter into a state (sleep state) where non-used functions arestopped and the sleep time T4 calculated by the table associating unit8, to the ONU using the MPCP unit. In this case, a message to request toenter into the sleep state is defined as a sleep state entering requestmessage. Also, the table associating unit 8 may calculate a time T5until the ONU enters into the sleep state after receiving the sleepstate entering request message. The sleep state entering request messagemay include information of the sleep time T4 and information of the timeT5 until the ONU enters into the sleep state after receiving the sleepstate entering request message. Timing when the sleep state enteringrequest message (control signal) is transmitted to the ONU may be timingimmediately after transmission of the frames with respect to the objectONU ends, timing after a predetermined time passes from when thetransmission of the frames with respect to the object ONU ends, ortiming after a time T6 determined on the basis of the priorityinformation and/or the protocol information passes from when thetransmission of the frames with respect to the object ONU ends. In thiscase, the OLT 20 may have a function of stopping the transmission of thesleep state entering request message, when the transmission framesarrives, and a function of transmitting asleep entering request releasemessage to the ONU.

In addition, it is determined that the transmission of the frames withrespect to the object ONU ends, when the frame arrival interval pbecomes a predetermined time Tp or more, the instantaneous bandwidthunder use B becomes a period 0 of a predetermined time TB, or the queuelength q becomes a period 0 of a predetermined time Tq. Values of Tp,TB, and Tq are preferably determined in consideration of a frameinterval of VoIP traffic or video system traffic.

The OLT 20 has a function of transmitting the frames arrived at the OLTto the ONU, when the ONU is in a normal state, and temporarily storingthe frames arrived at the OLT in the queue in the OLT, when the ONU isin the sleep state. The OLT 20 may determine whether the ONU is in thesleep state or the normal state, using a message received from the ONU,or may estimate whether the ONU is in the sleep state or the normalstate, using a timer in the OLT. When all of the ONUS connected to theOLT 20 are in the sleep state, the OLT 20 may stop the non-usedfunctions of the OLT 20 and enter into the sleep state. The OLT 20 mayhave a function of immediately returning the state of the OLT 20 to thenormal state, when receiving the frames from the SNI port and/or thePON-IF port.

Next, a sequence of dynamically determining the sleep time T4 in thetable associating unit 8 on the basis of the protocol information and/orthe priority information of the frames transmitted to the ONU and/orreceived from the ONU, which is obtained by the observing unit 7, willbe described. The table of the OLT side is previously designated suchthat the sleep times T4 of 50 ms, 30 ms, 10 ms, and 5 ms are set totraffics with the priority of 0, 1, 2, and 3, respectively. By referringto the table when the frames are transmitted, T4=5 ms is set in the caseof the frame with the priority of 3. As protocol information, headerinformation such as a session initiation protocol (SIP), a user datagramprotocol (UDP), a real-time transport protocol (RTP), a transmissioncontrol protocol (TCP), an Internet protocol (IP), and the Ethernet® maybe used. For example, it is considered that in the case where an SIPsession is continuous or RTP traffic is circulated, the sleep time T4 isset to 0 ms, and in the other cases, the sleep time T4 is set accordingto a value of a type of service (ToS) of an IP header or a value of aclass of service (CoS) of a VLAN tag.

In this case, the method of determining the sleep time T4 is described.However, the times T5 and T6 described above may be determined by thesame method.

Next, an optical network unit (ONU) according to the present disclosurewill be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 7 is a functionalblock diagram of an ONU according to Embodiment 1-1 and Embodiment 1-2.An ONU 30 that is illustrated in FIG. 7 includes a user networkinterface (UNI) port 11, a queue managing unit 12, a PON signalprocessing unit 13, a PON interface (PON-IF) port 14, and a sleep unit15.

The ONU 30 has a function of stopping non-used functions and enteringinto the sleep state by the sleep unit 15, when receiving a sleep stateentering request message (control signal) from the OLT. The ONU 30 has afunction of maintaining the sleep state by the sleep time T1 or thesleep time T4 to be designated. The ONU 30 returns to a normal state,after the sleep time T1 or the sleep time T4 passes. The ONU 30 mayenter into the sleep state immediately after the sleep state enteringrequest message is received, enter into the sleep state after apredetermined time passes from when the sleep state entering requestmessage is received, or enter into the sleep state after the time T2 orthe time T5 determined by the OLT passes from when the sleep stateentering request message is received. In this case, the ONU 30 may havea function of stopping the entering of the ONU into the sleep state,when the transmission frames arrive. The ONU 30 may have a function ofnotifying the OLT that the ONU returns to the normal state, using theMPCP unit. In this case, a message to notify the OLT that the ONUreturns to the normal state is defined as a normal state return message.The ONU 30 may have a function of immediately returning to the normalstate, when receiving the frames from the UNI port. The functions thatare stopped by the ONU may be previously determined.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a message exchanging sequence of theOLT and the ONU. The OLT may transmit a confirmation response to theONU, with respect to the normal state return message transmitted by theONU. The ONU may transmit a confirmation response to the OLT, withrespect to the sleep state entering request message transmitted by theOLT.

The functions of the OLT and the ONU or the methods of calculating thesleep time in Embodiment 1-1 and Embodiment 1-2 may be arbitrarilycombined and used. For example, the sleep time may be calculated byobserving the frame interval of only the frames having the certainpriority or the frames having the certain protocol information. In thetable associating unit 8 according to Embodiment 1-2, the tableinformation may be changed as needed according to the trafficinformation observed using the observing unit 5 according to Embodiment1-1. If the table information is changed, when the frames having thecertain priority or the frames having the certain protocol informationare not transmitted during a predetermined period, consumption power canbe greatly decreased by increasing the sleep time.

In the embodiment described above, the cases of the EPON and the10G-EPON are described. However, it is apparent that the presentdisclosure can be applied to other PONS, for example, a B-PON, a G-PON,a WDM-PON, and a CDM-PON based on the ITU-T advice. In addition, it isapparent that the present disclosure can also be applied to an opticalnetwork system that performs point-to-point communication shown in FIG.1.

Embodiment 2-1

First, the configuration of the ONU according to the present disclosurewill be described using FIG. 9. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating theconfiguration of the ONU according to the present disclosure.

[Configuration of the ONU]

An ONU 10 includes an UNI 101, a queue managing unit 11, a PON signalprocessing unit 12, a PON-IF 104, an observing unit 13, a stopdetermining unit 14, and a stopping unit 15.

The queue managing unit 11 observes a value of ToS or a value of CoS foreach frame, to be described below.

The PON signal processing unit 12 includes an MPCP module 16, an OAMmodule 17, a MAC module 107, and a PHY module 108, and receives a sleeprequest message from the stop determining unit 14 to be described below.The sleep request message is transmitted to the OLT.

The observing unit 13 monitors traffic. For example, the observing unit13 monitors an arrival interval of frames, an instantaneous bandwidthunder use, and a queue length in a buffer during a period of apredetermined time t1. The observing unit 13 monitors communicationtraffic and observes whether traffic of a specific type exists.

The stop determining unit 14 sets threshold values to the arrivalinterval of the frames, the instantaneous bandwidth under use, and thequeue length in the buffer, and determines whether measurement valuesare equal to or greater than the threshold value or equal to or smallerthan the threshold values to determine whether communication is in anon-communication state. For example, the stop determining unit 14 usesthe case where the measurement value of the frame arrival interval isequal to or greater than the threshold value and the measurement valuesof the instantaneous bandwidth under use and the queue length are equalto or smaller than the threshold values as a determination reference ofthe non-communication state. When it is determined that thecommunication is in the non-communication state during the period of thepredetermined time t1, the stop determining unit 14 transmits a sleeprequest message to the OLT, after transmission of data frames ends. Ifthe OLT receives the sleep request message from the ONU 10, the OLTtransmits a confirmation response (ACK message) to the ONU 10.

When the predetermined time t1 is set to be equal to or longer than thepredetermined time t2 and the frames arrive with a cycle of an averageframe interval Tint, average queuing delay can be minimized. Forexample, when Tint is 5 ms, if 5 ms is set to the predetermined time t1and 6 ms is set to the predetermined time t2, on the average, one ormore frames arrive during a stop period. Meanwhile, when Tint is 5 ms,if 5 ms is set to the predetermined time t1 and 4 ms is set to thepredetermined time t2, on the average, only one frame or less arrivesduring the stop period. Therefore, as compared with the former, averagequeuing delay decreases. In order to maximize a power saving effectwhile minimizing the average queuing delay, the predetermined time t1and the predetermined time t2 are preferably set to the value as Tint.

The stop determining unit 14 has a function of not stopping the partialfunctions of the ONU 10 or a function of stopping the partial functionsof the ONU 10 during the period of the predetermined time t2 andstarting the partial functions with a predetermined cycle, regardless ofwhether communication of the ONU 10 including the traffic of thedesignated type enters into the non-communication state during theperiod of the predetermined time t1, when the traffic of the specifictype exists. In this case, the stop determining unit 14 may transmit asleep stop request message to the OLT, when the partial functions of theONU 10 are not stopped, and transmit a sleep request message to the OLT,when the partial functions of the ONU 10 are stopped. When the sleepstop request message is transmitted and received, for example, the MPCPmodule 16 or the OAM module 17 can be used.

Instead of the ONU 10 transmitting the sleep request message or thesleep stop request message to the OLT, the OLT may autonomouslydetermine a stop state of the ONU 10 and estimate that the ONU 10 is inthe stop state. In this case, the observing unit 13 and the stopdetermining unit 14 that are mounted in the ONU 10 are also mounted inthe OLT to monitor the specific traffic for each ONU 10.

The existence or non-existence of the traffic of the specific type canbe determined on the basis of whether one or more frames of the specifictype are observed during the period of the predetermined time t3. Forexample, VoIP packets (frames including the VoIP packets) aretransmitted at an interval of 20 ms and each packet has the arrival timedifference of a maximum of ±20 ms. For this reason, if the predeterminedtime t3 is set as 60 to 220 ms and VoIP communication having the highpriority is performed with a specific ToS value or CoS value, at least 1to 10 VoIP packets (frames including the VoIP packets) can be observedfor the predetermined time t3. Therefore, it can be determined whetherthe VoIP communication having the high priority is performed.

The existence or non-existence of the traffic of the specific type canbe determined on the basis of whether a session of the traffic of thespecific type is continuing. For example, when the VoIP communication isperformed, fixing and opening of sessions between terminals areperformed using a session initiation protocol (SIP). Therefore, bysnooping an INVITE message at the time of starting the session and a BYEmessage at the time of opening the session, it can be determined whetherthe session is continuing.

If the ONU 10 receives a confirmation response (ACK message), thestopping unit 15 stops the partial functions (for example, functions ofthe queue managing unit 11, the PON signal processing unit 12, theobserving unit 13, and the stop determining unit 14) of the ONU 10during the period of the predetermined time t2. After the predeterminedtime t2 passes, the stopping unit 15 starts the stopped partialfunctions and confirms whether traffic exists with respect to the OLT(traffic confirmation message). If it is in the non-communication state(NO message), it stops the partial functions during the period of thepredetermined time t2. If the frames arrive (YES message), it startscommunication with the OLT.

The stopping unit 15 preferably has a function of immediately startingthe stopped partial functions to prevent transmission delay of framesand transmitting the frames to the OLT, when the traffic is transmittedfrom the UNI 101. When the individual messages (the sleep requestmessage, the ACK message, the traffic confirmation message, the NOmessage, and the YES message) described above are transmitted andreceived, for example, the MPCP module 16 or the OAM module 17 can beused.

Hereinafter, the case where the non-communication state is determined bythe instantaneous bandwidth under use (traffic amount) will bedescribed.

For example, when connection of the traffic having the high priority,such as the VoIP communication using the RIP or the SIP, exists, thefunctions of the ONU are not stopped in all cases to maintain acommunication quality with respect to the traffic having the highpriority.

For this reason, the queue managing unit 11 has a function of observinga ToS value stored in a header of an Internet protocol (IP) packet foreach frame, and confirms whether VoIP traffic exists. The queue managingunit 11 has a function of managing the ToS value of the IP packet to beassociated with a CoS value stored in a virtual LAN (VLAN) tag providedMAC frame and observing the CoS value for each frame.

Next, the functions of the ONU 10 will be described using FIG. 10. FIG.10 is a functional block diagram of the ONU 10.

[Functions of the ONU]

FIG. 10 illustrates the case where the queue managing unit 11 managesthe ToS value of the IP packet to be associated with the CoS valuestored in the VLAN tag provided MAC frame and observes the CoS value foreach frame. The queue managing unit 11 has a function of providing ordeleting a VLAN tag and associating the ToS value and the CoS value witheach other.

In addition, it is assumed that the queue managing unit 11 associates aVLAN-ID designated in the VLAN tag and a logical link ID (LLID) of a PONprovided from the OLT and performs communication. The LLID is anidentifier that is allocated to each logical link.

An observing unit/stop determining unit 21 is a component that isrepresented as one block by collecting the functions of the observingunit 13 and the stop determining unit 14. The observing unit/stopdetermining unit 21 observes the traffic amount and the priority of thetraffic and performs the stop determination on the basis of the trafficamount and the priority of the traffic.

When the traffic amount is equal to or smaller than the threshold valueduring the period of the predetermined time t1 and the traffic havingthe specific priority (ToS value or CoS value) is not observed, theobserving unit/stop determining unit 21 determines the stop of thepartial functions and transmits the sleep request message (211). Thesleep request message is defined as one of the MPCP frame or the OAMframe.

When the traffic amount is equal to or smaller than the threshold valueduring the period of the predetermined time t1 and the traffic havingthe specific priority is observed, the observing unit/stop determiningunit 21 determines the non-stop of the partial functions, and does nottransmit the sleep request message and continuously observes the trafficduring the period of the predetermined time t3 (212).

When the traffic amount is equal to or greater than the threshold valueduring the period of the predetermined time t1, the observing unit/stopdetermining unit 21 determines the non-stop of the partial functions,regardless of whether the traffic having the specific priority isobserved (213 and 214).

An MPCP/OAM module 22 that is included in the PON signal processing unit12 indicates the MPCP module 16 or the OAM module 17. The MPCP/OAMmodule22 associates the VLAN-ID with the LLID in the case of an uplink signal,and associates the LLID with the VLAN-ID in the case of a downlinksignal. When the sleep request message is received from the observingunit/stop determining unit 21, the sleep request message is transmittedas one of the MPCP frame or the OAM frame.

The observing unit 13 preferably does not include the frames discardedin the ONU 10 in communication traffic monitoring objects to improve thedetermination capability of the stop determining unit 14.

Even when the traffic of the specific type is circulated, the stopdetermining unit 14 can transmit the sleep request message to the OLT,in the case where the traffic of the specific type is the framesdiscarded in the ONU 10. For example, as a method that realizesmulticast communication in the PON, a method that transmits the framesbroadcast from the OLT to all of the ONUS 10 and filters the framesusing the identifiers of the frames at the side of the ONU 10 isconsidered. This can be equally applied to the case where a protocolfilter to filter the specific protocol is mounted in the ONU. As such,even when the multicast frames are circulated through the PON, the stopdetermining unit 14 can stop the partial functions of the ONU 10 in thenon-communication state.

In this case, the OLT that is connected to the ONU 10 preferablyincludes a buffer (the buffer capacity is set as the maximumtransmission amount in the stop time) that temporarily stores thearrived frames to suppress the number of lost frames to zero, when theONU 10 is in the stop state and traffic to be transmitted to the ONU 10is generated.

Next, the operation of the ONU 10 will be described using FIG. 11.

[Operation of the ONU]

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the operation of theONU 10. First, in step S301, the observing unit 13 sets the measurementtime Tw to the predetermined time t1. The process proceeds to step S302.

In step S302, the observing unit 13 starts a timer after resetting thetimer. The process proceeds to step S303.

In step S303, the observing unit 13 determines whether a timer value isequal to or greater than the measurement time Tw. When the timer valueis smaller than the measurement value Tw (step S303: No), the processproceeds to step S304. When the timer value is equal to or greater thanthe measurement value Tw (step S303: Yes), the process proceeds to stepS305.

In step S304, the stop determining unit 14 determines whether thetraffic exists. When the traffic exists (step S304: Yes), the processproceeds to step S307. When the traffic does not exist (step S304: No),the process returns to step S303.

In step S305, since the traffic does not exist for the measurement timeTw, the stop determining unit 14 determines that the communication is inthe non-communication state and transmits the sleep request message tothe OLT. The process proceeds to step S306.

In step S306, the stopping unit 15 stops the partial functions of theONU during the period of the predetermined time t2 and starts thepartial functions after the period of the predetermined time t2 passes.

In step S307, the stop determining unit 14 determines whether thetraffic is the traffic having the specific priority. When the traffic isthe traffic having the specific priority (step S307: Yes), the processproceeds to step S308. When the traffic is not the traffic having thespecific priority (step S307: No), the process proceeds to step S309.

In step S308, the observing unit 13 sets the measurement time Tw to thepredetermined time t3. The process proceeds to step S309. The reason whythe measurement time Tw is set to the predetermined time t3 is that theprocess proceeds to step S305, in the case where traffic does not existduring the period of t3, not the period of t1, in step S303, when thetraffic is the traffic having the specific priority. In this way, thecondition of stopping the partial functions can be changed by changingthe measurement time Tw according to the type of the traffic. Forexample, when the traffic of the specific type is the traffic having thehigh priority, t1>t3 can be set. When the traffic of the specific typeis the traffic having the low priority, t3>t1 can be set.

In step S309, the ONU 10 communicates with the OLT and transmits andreceives data. The process proceeds to step S310.

In step S310, it is determined whether a power supply of the ONU 10 isturned off. When the power supply is turned off (step S310: Yes), theprocess ends. When the power supply is turned on (step S310: No), theprocess returns to step S302.

This flowchart is exemplary and illustrates an example of the operationof transmitting the sleep request message when no traffic is observedduring the period of the predetermined time t3, after the traffic havingthe specific priority is observed.

After the traffic having the specific priority is observed, when thetraffic having the specific priority is not observed during the periodof the predetermined time t3, if no traffic is observed during theperiod of the predetermined time t1, the sleep request message may betransmitted. In this case, a second time measuring unit (timer) may beused. When the traffic having the specific priority is observed, a valueof the second time measuring unit may be set (reset) to 0 and the secondtime measuring unit may start, and when the value of the second timemeasuring unit becomes the predetermined time t3 or more, themeasurement time Tw may be set again to the predetermined time t1.

According to Embodiment 2-1, power of the ONU 10 can be saved withoutdeteriorating a communication quality of the traffic of the specifictype.

Embodiment 2-2

Next, a modification of the observing method of the observing unit 13 inthe ONU 10 will be described as Embodiment 2-2. The same components asthose in Embodiment 2-1 are denoted by the same reference numerals andthe description thereof is omitted.

FIG. 12 is a functional block diagram of an ONU 40 according toEmbodiment 2-2. The ONU 40 according to Embodiment 2-2 determineswhether uplink traffic exists, using a report message generated by theMPCP module 16 of the PON signal processing unit 12 and transmitted tothe OLT. The report message is a message that is used to notify the OLTof the transmission waiting traffic amount for each of the plural queuesprovided to the ONU 40, and it is used so that each queue can correspondto each priority (ToS value or CoS value).

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a frame format of a report message inthe IEEE standard 802.3. As values of the priorities, 0 to 7 of “Queue#0 Report” to “Queue #7 Report” illustrated in the format are used.

When the traffic amount is equal to or smaller than the threshold valueduring the period of the predetermined time t1 and the traffic havingthe specific priority (ToS value or CoS value) is not observed, theobserving unit/stop determining unit 21 determines the stop of thepartial functions and transmits the sleep request message to the OLT(411).

When the traffic amount is equal to or smaller than the threshold valueand the downlink traffic having the specific priority or the uplinktransmission waiting traffic having the specific priority is observed,the observing unit/stop determining unit 21 determines the non-stop ofthe partial functions, and continuously performs the observation of thedownlink traffic and the determination of the report message of theuplink transmission waiting traffic without transmitting the sleeprequest message, during the period of the predetermined time t3 (412).

When the traffic amount is equal to or greater than the threshold valueduring the period of the predetermined time t1, the observing unit/stopdetermining unit 21 determines the non-stop of the partial functions,regardless of whether the traffic having the specific priority isobserved (413 and 414).

When the traffic of the designated type is determined, protocolinformation such as the RTP or the SIP may be used, and priorityinformation such as the ToS value or the CoS value may be arbitrarilycombined and used.

According to Embodiment 2-2, similar to Embodiment 2-1, power of the ONU40 can be saved without deteriorating a communication quality of thetraffic of the specific type.

Embodiment 2-3

Next, a modification of the determining method of the stop determiningunit 14 in the ONU 10 according to Embodiment 2-1 and the ONU 40according to Embodiment 2-2 will be described as Embodiment 2-3. In thisembodiment, when only the frames transmitted with a predetermined cyclesuch as the VoIP exist, an intermittent start operation is performedwith a cycle synchronized with a frame cycle thereof, and power of theONU can be efficiently saved by setting a stop time shorter than theframe cycle. Even when traffic does not exist, the intermittent startoperation is performed with the same cycle.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a determining method in the stopdetermining unit 14 according to this embodiment.

When traffic does not exist during the period of the predetermined timet1, the stop determining unit 14 according to this embodiment determinesthe stop of the partial functions (61).

Meanwhile, when traffic exists during the period of the predeterminedtime t1, the type of the traffic is determined during the period of thepredetermined time t3. When the traffic is only traffic of the specifictype (for example, VoIP), the stop determining unit 14 determines thestop of the partial functions and transmits asleep request message (62).When the traffic includes traffic other than the traffic of the specifictype, the stop determining unit 14 determines the non-stop of thepartial functions (63 and 64).

When traffic of a specific type is observed, the stop determining unit14 performs the stop determination using the method illustrated inEmbodiment 2-1. When traffic of another specific type is observed, thestop determining unit 14 can perform the stop determination using themethod illustrated in Embodiment 2-3.

According to Embodiment 2-3, when only the frames transmitted with thepredetermined cycle exist, power of the ONU can be efficiently saved.

The embodiments described above are descried as the representativeexamples. However, it can be apparent to those skilled in the art thatvarious changes and replacements can be made within a range of thepresent disclosure without departing from the sprit of the presentdisclosure, and each embodiment can be combined and other embodimentscan be realized. Therefore, the present disclosure is not analyzed to belimited by the embodiments described above, and various modifications orchanges can be made without departing from a range of claims. Forexample, the observing unit 13 and the stop determining unit 14 that aredescribed in each embodiment may be arbitrarily combined and used.

The range of the partial functions that are stopped at the time of thesleep is not particularly limited and may be determined by the balancewith a rising time of a circuit. In each embodiment, it is assumed thatthe functions of the observing unit 13 and the stop determining unit 14are stopped at the time of the sleep.

In each embodiment, the cases of the EPON and the 10G-EPON aredescribed. However, it is apparent that the present disclosure can beapplied to other PONs, for example, a B-PON, a G-PON, a WDM-PON, and aCDM-PON based on the ITU-T advice. Further, it is apparent that thepresent disclosure can be applied to the optical network of thepoint-to-point type illustrated in FIG. 15.

Each embodiment in the EPON or the 10G-EPON will be described withreference to the drawings. It is assumed that traffic of a specific typeto be described below includes at least one of VoIP traffic, RTPtraffic, and traffic having the specific priority.

Embodiment 3-1

First, the configuration of the OLT according to the present disclosurewill be described using FIG. 20. FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating theconfiguration of the OLT according to the present disclosure.

[Configuration of the OLT]

An OLT 10 includes a PON-IF 111, a PON signal processing unit 11, aqueue managing unit 12, an SNI 114, a stop determining unit 13, and anobserving unit 14.

The PON signal processing unit 11 has an MPCP module 15, a bandallocating unit 116, an OAM module 16, a MAC module 118, and a PHYmodule 119, and receives a sleep instruction message from the stopdetermining unit 13, to be described below. The sleep instructionmessage is transmitted to the ONU.

The queue managing unit 12 observes a value of a type of service (ToS)or a value of a class of service (CoS) for each frame, to be describedbelow.

The observing unit 14 monitors traffic for each of the ONUs connected tothe OLT 10. For example, the observing unit 14 monitors an arrivalinterval of frames, an instantaneous bandwidth under use, and a queuelength in a buffer during the period of the predetermined time t1. Theobserving unit 14 monitors communication traffic for each of the ONUsconnected to the OLT 10 and observes whether traffic of a specific typeexists.

The stop determining unit 13 sets threshold values to the arrivalinterval of the frames, the instantaneous bandwidth under use, and thequeue length in the buffer, and determines whether the measurementvalues are equal to or greater than the threshold values or equal to orsmaller than the threshold values to determine whether the communicationis in the non-communication state. For example, the threshold values ormore is used as a determination reference of the non-communication statein the case of the frame arrival interval and the threshold values orless is used as a determination reference of the non-communication statein the cases of the instantaneous bandwidth under use and the queuelength in the buffer. When it is determined that the communication is inthe non-communication state during the period of the predetermined timet1, the stop determining unit 13 transmits a sleep instruction messageto the ONU after transmission of the data frames ends and stops thepartial functions of the ONU.

The stop determining unit 13 has a function of not stopping the partialfunctions of the ONU or a function of stopping the partial functions ofthe ONU during the period of the predetermined time t2 and starting thepartial functions with a predetermined cycle, regardless of whethercommunication of the ONU 10 including the traffic of the designated typeenters into the non-communication state during the period of thepredetermined time t1, when the traffic of the specific type exists. Inthis case, the stop determining unit 13 may transmit a sleep stopmessage to the ONU, when the partial functions of the ONU are notstopped, and transmit a sleep instruction message to the ONU, when thepartial functions of the ONU are stopped. When the sleep instructionmessage and the sleep stop message are transmitted and received, forexample, the MPCP module 15 or the OAM module 16 can be used.

When the predetermined time t1 is set to be equal to or longer than thepredetermined time t2 and the frames arrive with a cycle of an averageframe interval Tint, average queuing delay can be minimized. Forexample, when Tint is 5 ms, if 5 ms is set to the predetermined time t1and 6 ms is set to the predetermined time t2, on the average, one ormore frames arrive during the stop period. Meanwhile, when Tint is 5 ms,if 5 ms is set to the predetermined time t1 and 4 ms is set to thepredetermined time t2, on the average, only one frame or less arrivesduring the stop period. Therefore, as compared with the former, averagequeuing delay decreases. In order to maximize a power saving effectwhile minimizing the average queuing delay, the predetermined time t1and the predetermined time t2 are preferably set to the same value asTint.

The existence or non-existence of the traffic of the specific type canbe also determined on the basis of whether one or more frames of thespecific type are observed during the period of the predetermined timet3. For example, VoIP packets (frames including the VoIP packets) aretransmitted at an interval of 20 ms and each packet has the arrival timedifference of a maximum of ±20 ms. For this reason, if the predeterminedtime t3 is set as 60 to 220 ms and VoIP communication having the highpriority is performed with a specific ToS value or CoS value, at least 1to 10 VoIP packets (frames including the VoIP packets) can be observedfor the predetermined time t3. Therefore, it can be determined whetherthe VoIP communication having the high priority is performed. Forexample, when the traffic of the specific type is the traffic having thehigh priority, t1>t3 can be set. When the traffic of the specific typeis the traffic having the low priority, t3 (t1 can be set.

The existence or non-existence of the traffic of the specific type canbe also determined on the basis of whether a session of the traffic ofthe specific type is continuing. For example, when the VoIPcommunication is performed, fixing and opening of sessions betweenterminals are performed using a session initiation protocol (SIP).Therefore, by snooping an INVITE message at the time of starting thesession and a BYE message at the time of opening the session, it can bedetermined whether the session is continuing.

Next, the configuration of the ONU according to the present disclosurewill be described using FIG. 21. FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating theconfiguration of the ONU according to the present disclosure.

[Configuration of the ONU]

An ONU 20 includes a UNI 121, a queue managing unit 122, a PON signalprocessing unit 21, a PON-IF 124, and a stopping unit 22.

The PON signal processing unit 21 has an MPCP module 23, an OAM module24, a MAC module 127, and a PHY module 128, and exchanges a message withthe stopping unit 22 to be described below.

If the stopping unit 22 receives a sleep instruction message from theOLT 10, the stopping unit 22 transmits a confirmation response (ACKmessage) to the OLT 10 and stops the partial functions (for example,functions of the queue managing unit 122 and the PON signal processingunit 21) of the ONU 20 during the period of the predetermined time t2.The stopping unit 22 starts the stopped partial functions after thepredetermined time t2 passes and confirms whether traffic exists withrespect to the OLT 10 (traffic confirmation message). If it is in thenon-communication state (NO message), it stops the partial functionsduring the period of the predetermined time t2. If the frames arrive(YES message), it starts communication with the OLT 10.

The stopping unit 22 preferably has a function of immediately startingthe stopped partial functions to prevent transmission delay of framesand transmitting the frames to the OLT 10, when the traffic istransmitted from the UNI 121. When traffic to be transmitted from theUNI 121 exists, the stopping unit 22 can return a rejection response(NACK message) with respect to a sleep instruction from the OLT 10 andends the stop of the partial functions. When each of the message (theACK message, the NACK message, the traffic confirmation message, the NOmessage, and the YES message) described above is transmitted andreceived, for example, the MPCP module 23 or the OAM module 24 can beused.

Hereinafter, the case where the non-communication state is determined bythe instantaneous bandwidth under use (traffic amount) will bedescribed.

For example, when connection of the traffic having the high priority,such as the VoIP communication using the RTP or the SIP, exists, thefunctions of the ONU 20 are not stopped in all cases to maintain acommunication quality with respect to the traffic having the highpriority.

For this reason, the queue managing unit 12 in the OLT 10 has a functionof observing a ToS value stored in a header of an Internet protocol (IP)packet for each frame, and confirms whether VoIP traffic exists. Or thequeue managing unit 12 has a function of managing the ToS value of theIP packet to be associated with a CoS value stored in a virtual LAN(VLAN) tag provided MAC frame and observing the CoS value for eachframe.

Next, the functions of the OLT 10 will be described using FIG. 22. FIG.22 is a functional block diagram of the OLT 10.

[Functions of the OLT]

FIG. 22 illustrates the case where the queue managing unit 12 managesthe ToS value of the IP packet to be associated with the CoS valuestored in the VLAN tag provided MAC frame and observing the CoS valuefor each frame.

In addition, it is assumed that the queue managing unit 12 associates aVLAN-ID designated in the VLAN tag and a logical link ID (LLID) of aPON, and performs communication. The LLID is an identifier that isallocated to each logical link.

An observing unit/stop determining unit 31 is a component that isrepresented as one block by collecting the functions of the observingunit 14 and the stop determining unit 13. The observing unit/stopdetermining unit 31 observes the traffic amount and the priority of thetraffic for each VLAN-ID of the frame processed by the queue managingunit 12, and performs the stop determination on the basis of the trafficamount and the priority of the traffic.

When the traffic amount is equal to or smaller than the threshold valueduring the period of the predetermined time t1 and the traffic havingthe specific priority (ToS value or CoS value) is not observed, withrespect to the certain VLAN-ID, the observing unit/stop determining unit31 determines the stop of the partial functions and transmits the sleepinstruction message with respect to the corresponding LLID (311). Thesleep request message is defined as one of the MPCP frame or the OAMframe. In addition, k that is illustrated in 311 to 314 is a value thatcorresponds to each ONU registered in the OLT. For example, when the nONUs are registered in the OLT, k becomes a value in a range of 1 (k (n.

When the traffic amount is equal to or smaller than the threshold valueand the traffic having the specific priority is observed, the observingunit/stop determining unit 31 determines the non-stop of the partialfunctions, and continuously observes the traffic without transmittingthe sleep instruction message, during the period of the predeterminedtime t3 (312).

When the traffic amount is equal to or greater than the threshold valueduring the period of the predetermined time t1, the observing unit/stopdetermining unit 31 determines the non-stop of the partial functions,regardless of whether the traffic having the specific priority isobserved (313 and 314).

An MPCP/OAM module 32 that is included in the PON signal processing unit11 indicates the MPCP module 15 or the OAM module 16. The MPCP/OAMmodule 32 associates the VLAN-ID with the LLID in the case of a downlinksignal, and associates the LLID with the VLAN-ID in the case of anuplink signal. When the sleep request message is received from theobserving unit/stop determining unit 31, the sleep request message istransmitted as one of the MPCP frame or the OAM frame.

In this case, the OLT 10 preferably includes a buffer (the buffercapacity is set as the maximum transmission amount for the stop time)that temporarily stores the arrived frames to suppress the number oflost frames to zero, when the ONU 20 is in the stop state and traffic tobe transmitted to the ONU 20 is generated.

The observing unit 14 preferably does not include the frames discardedin the ONU 20 in communication traffic monitoring objects to improve thedetermination capability of the stop determining unit 13.

Even when the traffic of the specific type is circulated, the sleepinstruction message can be transmitted to the ONU 20, in the case wherethe traffic of the specific type are the frames discarded in the ONU 20.For example, as a method that realizes multicast communication in thePON, a method that transmits the frames broadcast from the OLT 10 to allof the ONUS 20 and filters the frames using the identifiers of theframes at the side of the ONUS 20 is considered. Even in this case,since the OLT 10 holds the association table of the ONU 20 of the objectperforming the multicast communication and the frame identifier, thetransmission destination ONU 20 can be specified at the side of the OLT10.

Even when a protocol filter to filter the specific protocol is mountedin the ONU 20, if the filter information is held by the OLT 10, the sameapplication can be made. As such, even when the multicast frames arecirculated through the PON, the partial functions of the ONU 20 can bestopped by selecting only the ONU 20 in the non-communication state.

Next, the operations of the OLT 10 and the ONU 20 will be describedusing FIGS. 23 and 24.

[Operations of the OLT and the ONU]

FIG. 23 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the operation of theOLT 10. In the OLT 10, a process of FIG. 23 is executed for eachVLAN-ID.

In step S401, the observing unit 14 sets the measurement time Tw to thepredetermined time t1. The process proceeds to step S402.

In step S402, the observing unit 14 starts a timer after resetting thetimer. The process proceeds to step S403.

In step S403, the observing unit 14 determines whether a timer value isequal to or greater than the measurement time Tw. When the timer valueis smaller than the measurement value Tw (step S403: No), the processproceeds to step S404. When the timer value is equal to or greater thanthe measurement value Tw (step S403: Yes), the process proceeds to stepS405.

In step S404, the stop determining unit 13 determines whether thetraffic exists. When the traffic exists (step S404: Yes), the processproceeds to step S407. When the traffic does not exist (step S404: No),the process returns to step S403.

In step S405, since the traffic does not exist for the measurement timeTw, the stop determining unit 13 determines that the communication is inthe non-communication state and transmits the sleep instruction messageto the ONU 20. The process proceeds to step S406.

In step S406, the observing unit 14 determines whether the trafficconfirmation message is received from the ONU 20. When the trafficconfirmation message is received from the ONU 20 (step S406: Yes), theprocess returns to step S401. When the traffic confirmation message isnot received (step S406: No), the process returns to step S406. That is,the process is stopped until the traffic confirmation message isreceived from the ONU 20.

In step S407, the stop determining unit 13 determines whether thetraffic is the traffic having the specific priority. When the traffic isthe traffic having the specific priority (step S407: Yes), the processproceeds to step S408. When the traffic is not the traffic having thespecific priority (step S407: No), the process proceeds to step S409.

In step S408, the observing unit 14 sets the measurement time Tw to thepredetermined time t3. The process proceeds to step S409. The reason whythe measurement time Tw is set to the predetermined time t3 is that theprocess proceeds to step S405, in the case where traffic does not existduring the period of t3, not the period of t1, in step S403, when thetraffic is the traffic having the specific priority. In this way, thecondition of stopping the partial functions of the ONU can be changed bychanging the measurement time Tw according to the type of the traffic.

In step S409, the OLT 10 communicates with the ONU 20 and transmits andreceives data. The process proceeds to step S410.

In step S410, it is determined whether the OLT 10 is connected to theONU 20. When the OLT 10 is connected to the ONU 20 (step S410: Yes), theprocess returns to step S402. When the OLT 10 is not connected to theONU 20 (step S410: No), the process ends.

This flowchart is exemplary and illustrates an example of the operationof transmitting the sleep instruction message when no traffic isobserved during the period of the predetermined time t3, after thetraffic having the specific priority is observed.

After the traffic having the specific priority is observed, when thetraffic having the specific priority is not observed during the periodof the predetermined time t3, if no traffic is observed during theperiod of the predetermined time t1, the sleep instruction message maybe transmitted. In this case, a second time measuring unit (timer) maybe used. When the traffic having the specific priority is observed, avalue of the second time measuring unit may be set (reset) to 0 and thesecond time measuring unit may start, and when the value of the secondtime measuring unit becomes the predetermined time t3 or more, themeasurement time Tw may be set again to the predetermined time t1.

FIG. 24 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the operation of theONU 20. First, in step S501, the stopping unit 22 determines whethertraffic exists. When the traffic exists (step S501: Yes), the processproceeds to step S502. When the traffic does not exist (step S501: No),the process proceeds to step S503.

In step S502, the ONU 20 communicates with the OLT 10 and transmits andreceives data. The process proceeds to step S505.

In step S503, the stopping unit 22 determines whether the sleepinstruction message is received from the OLT 10. When the sleepinstruction message is received (step S503: Yes), the process proceedsto step S504. When the sleep instruction message is not received (stepS503: No), the process proceeds to step S505.

In step S504, the stopping unit 22 stops the partial functions of theONU 20 during the period of the predetermined time t2, and starts thestopped partial functions after the period of the predetermined time t2passes. Then, the process proceeds to step S505.

In step S505, it is determined whether the power supply of the ONU 20 isturned off. When the power supply is turned off (step S505: Yes), theprocess ends. When the power supply is turned on (step S505: No), theprocess returns to step S501.

According to Embodiment 3-1, power of the ONU 20 can be saved withoutdeteriorating a communication quality of the traffic of the specifictype.

Embodiment 3-2

Next, an example of a modification of the observing method of theobserving unit 14 in the OLT 10 will be described as Embodiment 3-2. Thesame components as those in Embodiment 3-1 are denoted by the samereference numerals and the description thereof is omitted.

FIG. 25 is a functional block diagram of an OLT 60 according toEmbodiment 3-2. The OLT 60 according to Embodiment 3-2 determineswhether uplink traffic exists, using a report message received from eachONU 20. The report message is a message that is used to notify the OLT60 of the transmission waiting traffic amount for each of the pluralqueues provided to the ONU 20, and each queue corresponds to eachpriority (ToS value or CoS value).

FIG. 26 is a diagram illustrating a frame format of a report message inthe IEEE standard 802.3. As values of the priorities, 0 to 7 of “Queue#0 Report” to “Queue #7 Report” illustrated in the format are used.

The observing unit/stop determining unit 31 observes the traffic amountand the priority of the traffic for each LLID value and performs thestop determination on the basis of the traffic amount and the priorityof the traffic.

When the traffic amount is equal to or smaller than the threshold valueduring the period of the predetermined time t1 and the traffic havingthe specific priority (ToS value or CoS value) is not observed, withrespect to the certain LLID, the observing unit/stop determining unit 31determines the stop of the partial functions and transmits the sleepinstruction message with respect to the corresponding LLID (611). Inaddition, k that is illustrated in 611 to 614 is a value thatcorresponds to each ONU 20 registered in the OLT 60. For example, whenthe n ONUS 20 are registered in the OLT 60, k becomes a value in a rangeof 1≦k≦n.

When the traffic amount is equal to or smaller than the threshold valueand the downlink traffic having the specific priority or the uplinktransmission waiting traffic having the specific priority is observed,the observing unit/stop determining unit 31 determines the non-stop ofthe partial functions, and continuously performs the observation of thedownlink traffic and the determination of the report message of theuplink transmission waiting traffic without transmitting the sleepinstruction message, during the period of the predetermined time t3(612). The uplink transmission waiting traffic that has the specificpriority is determined from the report message.

When the traffic amount is equal to or greater than the threshold valueduring the period of the predetermined time t1, the observing unit/stopdetermining unit 31 determines the non-stop of the partial functions,regardless of whether the traffic having the specific priority isobserved (613 and 614).

When the traffic of the designated type is determined, protocolinformation such as the RTP or the SIP may be used, and priorityinformation such as the ToS value or the CoS value may be arbitrarilycombined and used.

According to Embodiment 3-2, power of the ONU 20 can be saved withoutdeteriorating a communication quality of the traffic of the specifictype.

Embodiment 3-3

Next, a modification of the determining method of the stop determiningunit 13 in the OLT 10 according to Embodiment 3-1 and the OLT 60according to Embodiment 3-2 will be described as Embodiment 3-3. In thisembodiment, when only the frames transmitted with a predetermined cyclesuch as the VoIP exist, an intermittent start operation is performedwith a cycle synchronized with a frame cycle thereof, and power of theONU 20 can be efficiently saved by setting a stop time shorter than theframe cycle. Even when traffic does not exist, the intermittent startoperation is performed with the same cycle.

FIG. 27 is a diagram illustrating a determining method in the stopdetermining unit 13 according to this embodiment. In addition, k that isillustrated in 81 to 84 is a value that corresponds to each ONU 20registered in the OLT 10 or 60. For example, when the n ONUS areregistered in the OLT, k becomes a value in a range of 1 (k (n.

When traffic does not exist during the period of the predetermined timet1, with respect to the certain VLAN-ID (or LLID), the stop determiningunit 13 according to this embodiment determines the stop of the partialfunctions (81).

Meanwhile, when traffic exists in the period of the predetermined timet1, the type of the traffic is determined during the period of thepredetermined time t3. When the traffic is only traffic of the specifictype (for example, VoIP), the stop determining unit 13 determines thestop of the partial functions and transmits a sleep instruction message(82). When the traffic includes traffic other than the traffic of thespecific type, the stop determining unit 13 determines the non-stop ofthe partial functions (83 and 84).

When traffic of a specific type is observed, the stop determining unit13 performs the stop determination using the methods illustrated inEmbodiment 3-1 and Embodiment 3-2. When traffic of another specific typeis observed, the stop determining unit 13 can perform the stopdetermination using the method illustrated in Embodiment 3-3.

According to Embodiment 3-3, when only the frames transmitted with thepredetermined cycle exist, power of the ONU can be efficiently saved.

The embodiments described above are descried as the representativeexamples. However, it can be apparent to those skilled in the art thatvarious changes and replacements can be made within a range of thepresent disclosure without departing from the sprit of the presentdisclosure, and each embodiment can be combined and other embodimentscan be realized. Therefore, the present disclosure is not analyzed to belimited by the embodiments described above, and various modifications orchanges can be made without departing from a range of claims. Forexample, the observing unit 14 and the stop determining unit 13 that aredescribed in each embodiment may be arbitrarily combined and used.

The range of the partial functions that are stopped at the time of thesleep is not particularly limited and may be determined by the balancewith a rising time of a circuit.

In each embodiment, the case of the EPON and the 10G-EPON is described.However, it is apparent that the present disclosure can be applied toother PONs, for example, a B-PON, a G-PON, a WDM-PON, and a CDM-PONbased on the ITU-T advice. Further, the present disclosure can beapplied to the optical network of the point-to-point type illustrated inFIG. 28.

Embodiment 4

An optical network according to this embodiment is an optical network inwhich one optical line terminal (OLT) performs point-to-point orpoint-to-multi-point communication with one or plural optical networkunits (ONU) through an optical fiber transmission path. It is acharacteristic of the optical network to include an observing unit thatobserves information of any one or all of an arrival interval of frames,an instantaneous bandwidth under use of a flow, a queue length of aqueue to temporarily store the frames, and a traffic type and a stopdetermining unit that dynamically determines a sleep period to be aperiod in which a sleep state where partial functions of the ONU arestopped is maintained, on the basis of the information obtained by theobserving unit. The ONU is entered into the sleep state immediatelyafter the communication ends, after a predetermined waiting time passesfrom when the communication ends, or after the waiting time determinedon the basis of the information passes from when the communication ends.

The configuration of the ONU according to the present disclosure in thecase where an autonomous intermittent start method illustrated in FIG.37 is used is illustrated in FIG. 39.

An ONU 70 includes an UNI 701, a queue managing unit 71, a PON signalprocessing unit 72, a PON-IF 704, an observing unit 73, a stopdetermining unit 74, and a stopping unit 75.

The queue managing unit 71 temporarily stores frames (uplink frames)that are transmitted to the OLT and frames (downlink frames) that arereceived from the OLT.

The PON signal processing unit 72 has an MPCP module 76, an OAM module77, a MAC module 707, and a PHY module 708.

The observing unit 73 monitors traffic. For example, the observing unit73 monitors an arrival interval of the downlink frames, an instantaneousbandwidth under use, a queue length in a buffer, and a traffic typeduring the period of the predetermined time t1.

The stop determining unit 74 determines the sleep time and the waitingtime, on the basis of the arrival interval of the downlink frames, theinstantaneous bandwidth under use, the queue length in the buffer, andthe traffic type. When it is determined that communication is in anon-communication state during the period of the predetermined time t1,the stop determining unit 74 transmits a sleep request message to theOLT, after transmission of the data frames ends. If the OLT receives thesleep request message from the ONU 70, the OLT transmits a confirmationresponse (ACK message) to the ONU 70.

If the ONU 70 receives the confirmation response (ACK message), thestopping unit 75 stops the partial functions (for example, functions ofthe queue managing unit 71, the PON signal processing unit 72, theobserving unit 73, and the stop determining unit 74) of the ONU 70during the period of the sleep time. After the sleep time passes, thestopping unit 75 starts the stopped partial functions and confirmswhether traffic exists with respect to the OLT (traffic confirmationmessage). If the communication is in the non-communication state (NOmessage), the stopping unit 75 stops the partial functions during theperiod of the sleep time. If the frames arrive (YES message), thestopping unit 75 starts communication with the OLT.

The stopping unit 75 preferably has a function of immediately startingthe partial functions to prevent transmission delay of frames andtransmitting the frames to the OLT, when the traffic is transmitted fromthe UNI 701. When the individual messages (the sleep request message,the ACK message, the traffic confirmation message, the NO message, andthe YES message) described above are transmitted and received, forexample, the MPCP module 76 or the OAM module 77 can be used.

The configuration of the OLT according to the present disclosure in thecase where a master/slave type intermittent start method illustrated inFIG. 38 is used is illustrated in FIG. 40.

An OLT 80 includes a PON-IF 811, a PON signal processing unit 81, aqueue managing unit 82, an SNI 814, a stop determining unit 83, and anobserving unit 84.

The PON signal processing unit 81 has an MPCP module 85, a bandallocating unit 816, an OAM module 86, a MAC module 818, and a PHYmodule 819, and receives a sleep instruction message from the stopdetermining unit 83, to be described below. The sleep instructionmessage is transmitted to the ONU.

The queue managing unit 82 temporarily stores frames that aretransmitted to the ONU and frames that are received from the ONU.

The observing unit 84 monitors traffic for each of the ONUS connected tothe OLT 80. For example, the observing unit 84 monitors an arrivalinterval of downlink frames, an instantaneous bandwidth under use, aqueue length in a buffer, and a traffic type during the period of thepredetermined time t1.

The stop determining unit 83 determines the sleep time and the waitingtime, on the arrival interval of the downlink frames, the instantaneousbandwidth under use, on the basis of the queue length in the buffer, andthe traffic type. When it is determined that communication is in anon-communication state during the period of the predetermined time t1,the stop determining unit 83 transmits a sleep instruction message tothe ONU, after transmission of the data frames ends, and stops thepartial functions of the ONU. The sleep instruction message preferablyincludes information of the sleep time and/or the waiting time.

The configuration of the ONU according to the present disclosure in thecase where a master/slave type intermittent start method illustrated inFIG. 38 is used is illustrated in FIG. 41.

An ONU 90 includes a UNI 921, a queue managing unit 922, a PON signalprocessing unit 91, a PON-IF 924, and a stopping unit 92.

The PON signal processing unit 91 has an MPCP module 93, an OAM module94, a MAC module 927, and a PHY module 928, and exchanges a message withthe stopping unit 92 to be described below.

If the stopping unit 92 receives the sleep instruction message from theOLT 80, the stopping unit 92 transmits a confirmation response (ACKmessage) to the OLT 80 and stops the partial functions (for example,functions of the queue managing unit 922 and the PON signal processingunit 91) of the ONU 90 during the period of the sleep time. The stoppingunit 92 starts the stopped partial functions after the sleep time passesand confirms whether traffic exists with respect to the OLT 80 (trafficconfirmation message). If the communication is in the non-communicationstate (NO message), the stopping unit 92 stops the partial functionsduring the period of the sleep time. If the frames arrive (YES message),the stopping unit 92 starts communication with the OLT 80.

The stopping unit 92 preferably has a function of immediately startingthe partial functions to prevent transmission delay of frames andtransmitting the frames to the OLT 80, when the traffic is transmittedfrom the UNI 921. When the traffic to be transmitted from the UNI 921exists, the stopping unit 92 can return a rejection response (NACKmessage) with respect to a sleep instruction from the OLT 80 and end thestop of the partial functions. When the messages (the ACK message, theNACK message, the traffic confirmation message, the NO message, and theYES message) described above are transmitted and received, for example,the MPCP module 93 or the OAM module 94 can be used.

As such, in the optical network according to this embodiment, power ofthe optical network can be efficiently saved by dynamically determiningthe sleep time to be the period to maintain the sleep state where thepartial functions of the ONU are stopped according to the trafficcharacteristics such as the frame arrival interval, the instantaneousbandwidth under use, the queue length in the buffer, and the traffictype.

The stop determining unit 83 sets a maximum value and a minimum valuefor the sleep time. In the case of at least one of the case where thearrival interval of the frames obtained by the observing unit 84 issmaller than a threshold value of the arrival interval of the frames,the case where the instantaneous bandwidth under use is greater than athreshold value of the instantaneous bandwidth under use, and the casewhere the queue length is greater than a threshold value of the queuelength, the stop determining unit 83 maintains the ONU in the normalstate. Meanwhile, in the case of at least one of the case where thearrival interval of the frames obtained by the observing unit 84 isequal to or greater than the threshold value of the arrival interval ofthe frames, the case where the instantaneous bandwidth under use isequal to or smaller than the threshold value of the instantaneousbandwidth under use, and the case where the queue length is equal to orsmaller than the threshold value of the queue length, the stopdetermining unit 83 enters the ONU into the sleep state and sets thesleep time to a value between the maximum value and the minimum value.

When the arrival interval of the frames obtained by the observing unit84 is equal to or greater than the threshold value of the arrivalinterval of the frames, the stop determining unit 83 calculates thesleep time using following equations: T1=Tmin+(Tmax−Tmin)*f(p) andf(p)=(1−(Th1/p)) or f(p)=(p−Th1)/(Th1′−Th1) (in this case, T1 indicatesthe sleep time, Tmin indicates the minimum value of the sleep time, Tmaxindicates the maximum value of the sleep time, Th1 indicates thethreshold value of the arrival interval of the frames, p indicates thearrival interval of the frames, and Th1′ indicates the maximum thresholdvalue of the arrival interval of the frames).

When the instantaneous bandwidth under use of the frames obtained by theobserving unit 84 is equal to or smaller than the threshold value of theinstantaneous bandwidth under use, the stop determining unit 83calculates the sleep time using following equations:T1=Tmin+(Tmax−Tmin)*f(B) and f(B)=(1−(B/Th2) or f(B)=(Th2−B)/(Th2−Th2′)(in this case, T1 indicates the sleep time, Tmin indicates the minimumvalue of the sleep time, Tmax indicates the maximum value of the sleeptime, Th2 indicates the threshold value of the instantaneous bandwidthunder use, B indicates the instantaneous bandwidth under use, and Th2′indicates the minimum value of the instantaneous bandwidth under use).

When the queue length obtained by the observing unit 84 is equal to orsmaller than the threshold value of the queue length, the stopdetermining unit 83 calculates the sleep time using following equations:T1=Tmin+(Tmax−Tmin)*f(q) and f(q)=(1−(q/Th3)) or f(q)=(Th3−q)/(Th3−Th3′)(in this case, T1 indicates the sleep time, Tmin indicates the minimumvalue of the sleep time, Tmax indicates the maximum value of the sleeptime, Th3 indicates the threshold value of the queue length, q indicatesthe queue length, and Th3′ indicates the minimum value of the queuelength).

Further, it is preferable that the stop determining unit 83 uses anaverage value of information obtained during the past predeterminedperiod in at least one of the arrival interval of the frames, theinstantaneous bandwidth under use, and the queue length.

In the OLT of the case of using the master/slave type intermittent startmethod or the ONU of the case of using the autonomous intermittent startmethod, the stop determining unit 83 has a function of determining thenon-stop of the partial functions of the ONU, when the traffic of thespecific type is observed by the observing 84.

In the OLT or the ONU, the observing unit 84 uses a value of a type ofservice (ToS) or a value of a class of service (CoS) and/or a reportmessage transmitted to the OLT, when the frames of the specific type areobserved.

The observing unit 84 does not observe the frames that are discarded inthe ONU.

The traffic of the specific type includes at least one of voice overInternet protocol (VoIP) traffic, real-time transport protocol (RTP)traffic, and traffic having the specific priority.

The ONU has a function of notifying the OLT of the stop of the partialfunctions or the non-stop of the partial functions.

The stopping unit 92 has a function of immediately starting the stoppedpartial functions, when the frames from the terminal connected to theONU are received, while the partial functions are stopped.

The OLT includes a unit that temporarily stores the arrived frames, whenthe traffic to be transmitted to the ONU is generated, while the ONUstops the partial functions.

The present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described aboveand the components can be modified and specified within a range thatdoes not depart from the scope of the present disclosure in implementingthe embodiments. Further, various disclosures can be made byappropriately combining the plural components disclosed in theembodiments. For example, some components may be removed from all thecomponents disclosed in the embodiments. Further, the components thatare disclosed in the different embodiments may be appropriatelycombined.

1. An optical line terminal in an optical network in which the opticalline terminal (OLT) and an optical network unit (ONU) communicate witheach other through an optical fiber transmission path, the optical lineterminal including: an observing unit that observes at least one ofprotocol information and priority information of frames transmitted tothe ONU and frames received from the ONU; a table where the priorityinformation and/or the protocol information is associated with a sleeptime to be a period in which a sleep state where non-used functions ofthe ONU are stopped is maintained; and a table associating unit thatdynamically determines the sleep time of the ONU by referring to thetable, on the basis of the priority information and/or the protocolinformation obtained by the observing unit, wherein a control signal tonotify the ONU of a sleep state entering request and the sleep time istransmitted to the ONU, immediately after communication with the ONUends, after a predetermined time passes from when the communication withthe ONU ends, or after a time determined on the basis of the priorityinformation and/or the protocol information passes from when thecommunication with the ONU ends.
 2. A method of controlling a sleepstate of an optical network unit in an optical network in which anoptical line terminal (OLT) and the optical network unit (ONU)communicate with each other through an optical fiber transmission path,the method including: a step that the OLT observes at least one ofprotocol information and priority information of frames transmitted tothe ONU and frames received from the ONU; a step that the OLTdynamically determines the sleep time of the ONU by referring to a tablewhere the priority information and/or the protocol information isassociated with a sleep time to be a period in which a sleep state wherenon-used functions of the ONU are stopped is maintained, on the basis ofthe priority information and/or the protocol information to be observed;a step that the OLT transmits a control signal to notify the ONU of asleep state entering request and the sleep time to the ONU, immediatelyafter communication with the ONU ends, after a predetermined time passesfrom when the communication with the ONU ends, or after a timedetermined on the basis of the priority information and/or the protocolinformation passes from when the communication with the ONU ends; a stepthat the ONU recognizes the sleep state entering request and the sleeptime using the control signal received from the OLT; and a step that theONU enters into the sleep state immediately after the control signal isreceived, after a predetermined time passes from when the control signalis received, or after a time designated by the OLT passes from when thecontrol signal is received, and return to a normal state after the sleeptime passes.
 3. An optical network system, including: one optical lineterminal (OLT) and one optical network unit (ONU), wherein the OLTperforms point-to-point communication with the ONU through an opticalfiber transmission path, the OLT including: an observing unit thatobserves at least one of protocol information and priority informationof frames transmitted to the ONU and frames received from the ONU; atable where the priority information and/or the protocol information isassociated with a sleep time to be a period in which a sleep state wherenon-used functions of the ONU are stopped is maintained; and a tableassociating unit that dynamically determines the sleep time of the ONUby referring to the table, on the basis of the priority informationand/or the protocol information obtained by the observing unit, whereina control signal to notify the ONU of a sleep state entering request andthe sleep time is transmitted to the ONU, immediately aftercommunication with the ONU ends, after a predetermined time passes fromwhen the communication with the ONU ends, or after a time determined onthe basis of the priority information and/or the protocol informationpasses from when the communication with the ONU ends, the ONU including:a sleep unit that stops non-used functions to enter into a sleep state,wherein a sleep state entering request and a sleep time to be a periodin which the sleep state is maintained are recognized using a controlsignal received from the OLT, the optical network unit enters into thesleep state by the sleep unit, immediately after the control signal isreceived, after a predetermined time passes from when the control signalis received, or after a time designated by the OLT passes, and theoptical network unit returns to a normal state after the sleep timepasses.
 4. An optical network system, including: one optical lineterminal (OLT) and a plurality of optical network units (ONU), whereinthe OLT performs point-to-multi-point communication with the ONUSthrough an optical fiber transmission path, the OLT including: anobserving unit that observes at least one of protocol information andpriority information of frames transmitted to the ONU and framesreceived from the ONU; a table where the priority information and/or theprotocol information is associated with a sleep time to be a period inwhich a sleep state where non-used functions of the ONU are stopped ismaintained; and a table associating unit that dynamically determines thesleep time of the ONU by referring to the table, on the basis of thepriority information and/or the protocol information obtained by theobserving unit, wherein a control signal to notify the ONU of a sleepstate entering request and the sleep time is transmitted to the ONU,immediately after communication with the ONU ends, after a predeterminedtime passes from when the communication with the ONU ends, or after atime determined on the basis of the priority information and/or theprotocol information passes from when the communication with the ONUends, the ONU including: a sleep unit that stops non-used functions toenter into a sleep state, wherein a sleep state entering request and asleep time to be a period in which the sleep state is maintained arerecognized using a control signal received from the OLT, the opticalnetwork unit enters into the sleep state by the sleep unit, immediatelyafter the control signal is received, after a predetermined time passesfrom when the control signal is received, or after a time designated bythe OLT passes, and the optical network unit returns to a normal stateafter the sleep time passes.